Health Care and Christian Ethics
Health Care and Christian Ethics
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How can Christian ethics make a significant contribution to health care ethics in today's Western, pluralistic society? Robin Gill examines the 'moral gaps' in secular accounts of health care ethics and the tensions within specifically theological accounts. He explores the healing stories in the Synoptic Gospels, identifying four core virtues present within them - compassion, care, faith and humility - that might bring greater depth to a purely secular interpretation of health care ethics. Each of these virtues is examined in turn, using a range of topical issues including health care rationing, genetics, HIV/AIDS, withholding/withdrawing nutrition from PVS patients, and the empirical evidence which suggests a connection between religion and health. Professor Gill also argues that these four virtues are shared by other major religious and humanistic traditions and that, together with secular principles, they can enrich health care ethics even in a pluralistic society.
- A well-informed study of the theoretical and practical aspects of secular health care ethics
- Develops a specifically Christian approach that offers depth to secular health care ethics without seeking to replace it
- Brings together a principled and virtue-based approach to health care ethics
Reviews & endorsements
'Gill's excellent, clear, and well-written book is a significant contribution to the conversation.' Church Times
'… the second half of the book is excellent as Gill considers virtues of compassion, care, faith and humility in the context of healthcare dilemmas.' The Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy
'The New Christian Ethics series aims to engage at the highest intellectual level with a largely secular debate to demonstrate the distinctive contribution that Christian ethics can make. This latest addition, by the series editor, achieves this with admirable clarity and straightforwardness.' Theology
'Gill's work is illuminating and stimulating, both as an introduction to, and expert interpretation of, difficulties and particularities of the debates and issues that surround, and consist within, the topic of health care, as well as recent trends in theological and moral philosophical thought.' International Journal of Public Theology
'Throughout his writing, Gill exhibits a masterful knowledge of both theological and secular writing in health care ethics. … With this book, Gill has made a valuable contribution to health care ethics.' Studies in Religion
Product details
March 2006Hardback
9780521857239
244 pages
235 × 160 × 23 mm
0.511kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Series editor's preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1. Moral gaps in secular health care ethics
- 2. Tensions in public theology
- 3. Healing in the Synoptic Gospels
- 4. Compassion in health care ethics
- 5. Care in health care ethics
- 6. Faith in health care ethics
- 7. Humility in health care ethics
- Conclusion
- Bibliography of works cited
- Index.
