Introduction

This book begins by rejecting the reigning view of medical ethics as the application of common morality, that is, the ethics of everyday life, to dilemmas that arise in today’s medical practice. Instead, it argues for a new theory of medical ethics that is actually in line with the codes of ethics and professional oaths proclaimed by physicians around the world. This introduction explains how a philosopher who has spent 30 years as a bioethicist at an academic medical center and medical school is in a good position to propose a novel approach to the ethics of medicine. The proposed theory of medical ethics makes sense of the concept of medical professionalism and serves as a useful guide for doctors who confront ethically challenging situations in their clinical practice.