First published 1992
Ezekiel Emanuel stands at the intersection of medicine and politics, wielding both a medical degree and training in political theory. He surveys the landscape of American medical ethics since the late 1950s, where debates rage over abortion, euthanasia, informed consent, and resource allocation. While others blame advancing medical technology for these dilemmas, Emanuel points his finger elsewhere. He argues that liberal political values themselves create these endless disputes. The problem runs deeper than new machines or procedures. Emanuel sees a nation paralyzed by its commitment to neutrality, unable to choose between competing visions of the good life. He maps out six different conceptions of human flourishing, each carrying distinct medical ethics. His solution emerges through liberal communitarianism, a system of federated political communities that engage in democratic deliberation. This framework, he contends, can resolve the ethical gridlock while remaining compatible with American medical traditions. Emanuel offers both diagnosis and cure for a healthcare system that satisfies almost no one.
Genres: political-science, non-fiction, biography-memoir, medical-ethics, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-consent
320 pages · Hardcover · Harvard University Press