Traditionally, the knowledge needed by physicians has consisted largely of medical science. But in recent years ethical questions have been looming ever larger in everyday clinical practice. Doing Right is a practical guide to decision making in those situations. Using dozens of real cases,it analyzes the most common ethical problems encountered by physicians and medical trainees.The many topics covered include truthtelling, refusal of treatment, confidentiality, rationing of health care, parents' refusal of treatment for their children, living wills, the ethics of medical research, and assisted suicide.Written simply and concisely with little philosophical or legal jargon, Doing Right should be essential reading for medical students, residents, and practising physicians. For those who teach bioethics, it will be welcome as a practical and readable textbook.

Philip C. Hebert's profile page

Dr. Philip Hebert, a practising family physician is on active staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he chairs the Hospital Ethics Committee and the Research Ethics Board. He is currently an Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and BioethicsCo-ordinator, Undergraduate Medicine, Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto.

"This book is sure to live up to its sub-title. It is a very sound, well-organized and helpful guide for ethical reflection and decision-making in medicine." - Earl Winkler, PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of British Columbia

" The great strength of this book is its accessibility ... The format of Hebert's book, its vocabulary and its very liberal use and discussion of common cases ensure that students will read it, understand it and become interested in it ... a very useful addition to any undergraduate orpostgraduate curriculum in biomedical ethics." Canadian Medical Association Journal (vol. 156, no.3, Feb 1997)

"Although the title suggests that the book is aimed at medical students and residents, it will also be of great use to all practicing doctors." [translated from French] Bulletin of the Quebec Society of Medicine and Law (March 1997)

" [a] balanced analyses of the ethical dilemmas that underlie well-edited paradigm cases. [Hebert's] use of highlighted, point-style menus will be particularly helpful for medical trainees, as will his current and extensive chapter bibliographies." Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons(vol.30, no.2, March 1997)

"The clear definitions, case discussion format, and the logical sequence of presenting areas within medical ethics all combine to make this book easy to read and well-suited for the problem-based learning approach. Students should find this book a helpful guide to understanding medical ethicsand its role in health care." - Miriam F. Rossi, MD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

"This book is a gem - beautifully written, practical and to the point. It provides a thoughtful and thought-provoking review of the common ethical issues in day-to-day practice. I wish I had had such a book thirty-five years ago when I was in medical school - it would have provided some muchneeded guideposts and helped me to understand the task of medicine much sooner, and with a little less angst." - W. Wayne Weston MD, University of Western Ontario

" With confidence, I recommend this book to all physicians and physicians-to-be. Dr. Hebert fulfilled his goal of offering a practical guide to ethical decision making in patient care." Canadian Family Physician (June 1997)

"... a valuable guide for all those engaged in medical practice." BC Medical Journal (Dec 1996)

"... offers health professionals a useful and thoughtful approach to ethical problems encountered in medical practice. ... The book is interesting, well written and well organized. It makes medical ethics more accessible to students and clinicians without requiring a background in philosophy.It could also serve as the framework for a short medical school course or residency program-based ethics course. I wish such a book had existed when I was a student." Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (vol.3, no.3, Autumn 1996)