This paper attempts a partial, critical look at the construction and use of case studies in ethics education. It argues that the authors and users of case studies are often insufficiently aware of the literary nature of these artefacts: this may lead to some confusion between fiction and reality. Issues of the nature of the genre, the fictional, story-constructing aspect of case studies, the nature of authorship, and the purposes and uses of case studies as "texts" are outlined and discussed. (...) The paper concludes with some critical questions that can be applied to the construction and use of case studies in the light of the foregoing analysis. (shrink)

This edited volume illustrates the central importance of diversity of human values throughout healthcare. The readings are organised around the main stages of the clinical encounter from the patient's perspective. This introductory chapter opens up crucial issues of methodology and of practical application in this highly innovative approach to the role of ethics in healthcare.

Two general ethical problems in psychiatry are thrown into sharp relief by long term care. This article discusses each in turn, in the context of two anonymised case studies from actual clinical practice. First, previous mental health legislation soothed doubts about patients' refusal of consent by incorporating time limits on involuntary treatment. When these are absent, as in the provisions for long term care which have recently come into force, the justification for compulsory treatment and supervision becomes more obviously problematic. (...) Second, Anglo-American law does not normally allow the preventive detention of someone who may be dangerous but has not actually committed any crime. The justification for detaining a possibly dangerous user of mental health services without his or her consent can only be based on risk assessment, but this raises issues of moral luck. Is the psychiatrist who decides not to take out a supervision order for a possibly dangerous patient with an initial psychotic diagnosis morally at fault if that person harms someone in the community, or himself? Or is the psychiatrist merely unlucky? (shrink)

Anomaly in English law between age of children's permitted consent to treatment and much lower age of criminal responsibility.

Review of Joan Callahan, Reproduction, Ethics and the Law: Feminist Perspectives.

Review of Daniel Callahan, The Troubled Dream of Life.

Review of Cynthia Daniels, 'At Women's Expense: State Power and the Politics of Fetal Rights'.

Review of Margit Shildrick, Leaky Bodies and Boundaries: Feminism, Postmodernism and (Bio)Ethics.

Review of Kieran O'Hagan and Karola Dillenburger, 'The Abuse of Women within Childcare Work' (Buckingham: Open University Press, 1995).

This article uses a case study to examine the conflicting rights of the patient to know a clinician;s HIV status and the clinician's right to privacy.

This volume of articles, literature and case studies illustrates the central importance of human values throughout healthcare. The readings are structured around the main stages of the clinical encounter from the patient's perspective.

This case conference concerns a child who has been in care following a diagnosis of emotional abuse and a serious incident of physical abuse. She wants to return home again, and her parents, who had previously scapegoated her, now blame the family's previous ills on her sister instead. The Children Act 1989 gives considerable weight to the child's wishes, but what if the child returns home and is re-abused? In this case conference a child psychiatrist, a philosopher and a lawyer (...) discuss the issues of clinicians' responsibilities, moral luck, and child care law. (shrink)

Review of Graeme Laurie, Genetic Privacy.

Review of British Medical Association handbook on human rights and doctors.

Review of collection of papers, primarily concerning the Phillipines, edited by H.T. Engelhardt and introduced by E. Pellegrino.

Review of Mary Mahowald, Genes, Women, Equality.