[Ethics, applied ethics, professional ethics]. / Ethik, angewandte Ethik, Berufsethik.

This study is concerned with "The Familiarity of Basic Rules in Professional Ethics Amongst Nursing Staff Members". Here the codification of norms in professional ethics is understood to be a necessary step on the way to individual nursing ethics. A survey on the study topic showed that there is a lack of familiarity in Germany. Therefore the authors conclude that German nursing has not yet reached this level of individual ethics. As it became clear in the survey that there is a general request for more information, the authors feel bound to demand better coverage of the topic in both basic and further training. The ethics of nursing, however, are applied ethics. In the following discourse first of all the authors will define the term "ethics" and explain the characteristics which are of importance in the present day situation. Secondly, they will ask what "applied ethics" can be against this background. Finally, the authors will discuss what "norms" are as regards professional ethics, how and why they develop and of what relevance they may be with respect to the corresponding ethics applied.

[Ethical aspects of health care economy]. / Ethische Aspekte einer Gesundheitsökonomie.

One of the present-day problems which illustrates several ethical issues is the development of health care, generally referred to as health policy. For over 25 years there has been a debate relating to runaway costs in health care. This led to various retrenchment attempts which failed altogether and will probably continue to fail in the future unless there is a radical change in approaching the subject. Brief explanations regarding the economies of public health care will show that by means of this science statements concerning the consequences as regards costs and efficiency can be made, but the material organisation of a health care system remains somewhat vague. The same applies to ethics as a science. To be able to explain how a health care system can be organised, one has to take a stand based on the system of values relevant to the particular individual. Yet the question is not, whether a certain concept is right or good, but rather to what extent it is plausible. It can be illustrated that the case against restricting health services cannot be justified. Following this there will be a discussion as to who is actually authorized to enforce such restrictions in a society with competing value systems, and which criteria can be applied. Finally the author will try to conceptualize the situation, taking a stand based upon his own views and beliefs.

[Organ transplantation and brain death. A critical contribution to the definition of brain death]. / Organtransplantation und Hirntod. Ein kritischer Beitrag zur Hirntoddefinition.

The following article is based on a lecture held in February 1996 in Bremen on the occasion of the 6. International Symposium of Intensive Medicine. Some arguments of the discussion about Brain-Death Definition are inquired. The main points are not the identification-methods (diagnosis) of brain-death but the function of Brain-Death-Definition. On one hand it is possible to demonstrate that the points of criticism are not plausible; on the other hand that the discussion about Brain-Death-Definition is a substitute that can't give an answer to the real ethical problem. The question is: "Which kind of medicine does the society want?" The main objective is to get to the matters of facts in the current discussion to create the presupposition reasonable orientation.

[Health is the most important point. Evaluation of nursing and medicine by society]. / Hauptsache Gesundheit.

Health ist the main thing. Society's evaluation of nursing and medicine. Health continues to be regarded as of high, if not the highest value. It should follow that the activities of doctors and nurses be equally highly valued. This paper examines whether this is the case. To understand the value of health is crucially important. It becomes obvious that while health is thought to be attainable, the belief that the sick, the disabled and the dying are humanely cared for is an illusion. So is the expectation that a small number of members of society can cope with it all.