Bioethics and Women: Across the Life Span 2006

All persons, though different, have the same value: this is the author's relatively uncontroversial starting point. Her end point is not uncontroversial: the ideal of justice as human flourishing, based on each person's unique set of capabilities. As the book focuses on women's healthcare, gender justice, a necessary element of equity, is central to the exploration of the issues. Classical pragmatists and feminist theorists support the strategy of promoting gender justice. Two features of the book are unique: (1) the topics presented cover the entire life span of women, not just those related to procreation; (2) a number of views on moral status apply not only to fetuses but also to those already born. The first part of the book provides an overview of bioethics, critiques common approaches to bioethics and models of the doctor-patient relationship, and sketches distinctive aspects of women's health care that are mostly overlooked. Positions on moral status are also presented. The second part identifies topics that are directly or indirectly related to women's health. Short cases illustrate the variables relevant to each theme. Empirical and theoretical considerations apply to each set of cases and aim to advance a broader and critical analysis of the issues raised.