Should editing of the human genome be allowed? What are the ethical implications of social restrictions during a pandemic? Is it ethical to use animals in clinical trials? Does prioritising COVID-19 treatment increase deaths from other causes? Bioethics is a dynamic field of research that uses interdisciplinary expertise and methodology to address normative issues in healthcare, medicine, biomedical research, biotechnology, public health and the environment. This Is Bioethics is an ideal introductory textbook for students new to the field, exploring the fundamental questions, concepts and problems in this rapidly developing area of research.
Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, this accessible volume helps students consider both traditional and novel questions, develop thoughtful and defensible answers, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various ethical positions in medicine. The authors eschew complex technical terms and jargon in favour of an easy-to-understand, informal writing style with engaging chapters designed to pique students' interest and encourage classroom discussion. The book also delves deeply into the realm of global public health ethics, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It considers topics such as selection decision-making, the proportionality of the public response to COVID-19, whether doctors have a professional duty to treat COVID-19 patients and whether vaccines against the virus should be mandatory.