Building on the best-selling tradition of previous editions Principles of Biomedical Ethics Seventh Edition provides a highly original practical & insightful guide to morality in the health professions Acclaimed authors Tom L Beauchamp & James F Childress thoroughly develop & advocate for four principles that lie at the core of moral reasoning in health care respect for autonomy nonmaleficence beneficence & justice Drawing from contemporary research-and integrating detailed case studies & vivid real-life examples & scenarios-they demonstrate how these prima facie principles can be expanded to apply to various conflicts & dilemmas from how to deliver bad news to whether or not to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments Illuminating both theory & method throughout Principles of Biomedical Ethics Seventh Edition considers what constitutes moral character & addresses the problem of moral status what rights are due to people & animals & when It also examines the professional-patient relationship surveys major philosophical theories-including utilitarianism Kantianism rights theory & virtue theory-and describes methods of moral justification in bioethics Ideal for courses in biomedical ethics bioethics & health care ethics the text is enhanced by hundreds of annotated citations & a substantial introduction that clarifies key terms & concepts NEW TO THE SEVENTH EDITION Ch 1 A clarified & more concise treatment of the common morality & its distinction from both particular moralities & the broad descriptive use of the term "morality" Ch 3 New sections on degrees of moral status & the moral significance of moral status Ch 4 A revised section on the therapeutic use of placebos & expanded coverage of theories of autonomy & information-processing issues Ch 5 New material on historical problems of underprotection & recent problems of overprotection in human subjects research Ch 6 A new section on expanded access & continued access in research & a relocated & integrated discussion of surrogate decision making for incompetent patients Ch 7 A distinction between traditional theories of justice & more recent theories like capabilities & well-being Ch 8 A new section on clinical ethics & research ethics Ch 9 A whole new section on virtue theory which expands the account from Ch 2 of the previous edition & on rights theory Ch 10 An extended & more in-depth discussion of the authors' theory of method & justification in bioethics A new Companion Website at wwwoupcomusbeauchamp featuring suggestions for effectively using the book in the classroom possible syllabi & examination questions additional readings useful exercises & cases for discussion