Update of Clinical Ethics (1) : Domestic and International Events 1997-2002 / General Medicine

ABSTRACT

This paper has two aims, to summarise recent domestic and international events related to medicoethical-legal decisions in the clinical setting and to discuss the ethical implications of these events. Domestic issues include brain death and organ transplantation, refusal of treatment for religious reasons, disclosure required for legitimate informed consent, surrogate motherhood, prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion, issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS, concealment of medical mistakes, truth telling, public trust in physicians and in health care, and medical research. International issues include voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide, the imposed separation of conjoined twins, problems pertaining to wrongful life, fetal surgery, the Icelandic database, homosexuality, resource allocation and global justice, and the death of participants in medical research.<BR>It is hoped that this review of recent events related to clinical ethics may serve as a basis for ethical considerations in daily practice.