title: Veatch's new foundation for medical ethics.
abstract: Robert M. Veatch proposes a "triple contract theory" as a new foundation for medical ethics. His criticisms of unilateral "physician ethics" are sound, but uncertainty as to whether he is proposing merely imaginary or real contracts vitiates his constructive arguments. If the former, he is recommending a minor heuristic device for thinking about ethics, not a foundation. If the latter, his proposal is utterly impractical and a medical covenant will have to be developed another way.
mesh_terms: D026688:Bioethical Issues; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D032982:Contracts; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028663:Ethical Theory; D026822:Ethicists; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009014:Morals; D011364:Professional Practice