Abstract: (6023 Views)
Background: In modern biomedicine, there is an increasing speed of development of new ideas and technologies and, consequently, increasing speed of new applicable knowledge. The rapid advances in medicine and biotechnology during recent decades, is accompanied with important discussions about new questions and dilemmas in the field of professional ethics. The increased recognition of ethical problems has contributed to the emergence of medical ethics as a new, cooperative and collaborative discipline in the world.
Methods: This article provides an introduction to main issues in modern medical ethics. It is a review of a great deal of books and articles which are published in the recent years.
Results: Some of the issues discussed include: physician-patient relationship, consent and informed decision-making, issues before birth, and end of life issues. Ethical issues in organ transplantation, biotechnology, assisted reproduction, medical research, clinical ethics education, and resource allocation are also reviewed briefly.
Conclusion: This intensive review of the basic issues in contemporary medical ethics is aimed at providing health care professionals a basic knowledge about ethical issues within their clinical practice.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
General Received: 2005/12/23 | Accepted: 2006/01/30 | Published: 2005/02/15