Review of Snyder L “Ethical choices. Case studies for medical practice 2nd edition”

Abstract

Ethics teaching is often theoretical, emphasising broad ethical principles, such as autonomy, or normative theories, such as consequentialism. Case studies are used primarily to illustrate these principles and theories. As a case-based text, Ethical choices: case studies for medical practice eschews the theoretical approach to medical ethics, arguing that ethics is not just about philosophical and other principles, ideals and rigorous arguments, but about the very real aspects of what people do and why. Through commentaries on 28 cases, divided into four sections (The clinical encounter, Non-clinical dimensions, Medicines collective obligations and The business of medicine), Ethical choices illustrates the resolution of a wide variety of dilemmas. Commentators do not argue by analogy with other cases a finding consistent with the (potentially contestable) assertion that ethical concerns are raised only when suggested courses of conduct deviate from the norm. Instead, the emphasis is on the power of stories in ethics education, and on the importance of using individual cases in all their complexity.