Clinical ethics: theory or practice?
This article starts with a brief historical account of the ongoing debate about the status of clinical ethics: theory of practice. The author goes on to argue that clinical ethics is best understood as a practice. However, its practicality should not be measured by the extent to which clinical-ethical consultants manage to mediate or negotiate resolutions to ethical conflicts. Rather, clinical ethics is practical because it is characterized by a profound concern for the well-being of individual patients as well as the moral parameters of swift and urgent medical action in the face of limited supportive information.
CEREC Center for Southeast Florida, Ft. Lauderdale 33329, USA.
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Welie
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D026822:Ethicists; D033061:Ethics Consultation; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D004992:Ethics, Medical / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011364:Professional Practice; D024382:Professional Role