Human Dignity in Bioethics and Law

by Charles Foster

Overview

Dignity is often denounced as hopelessly amorphous or incurably theological: as feel-good philosophical window-dressing, or as the name given to whatever principles give you the answer that you think is right. This is wrong, says Charles Foster: dignity is not only an essential principle in bioethics and law; it is really the only principle. In this ambitious, paradigm-shattering but highly readable book, he argues that dignity is the only sustainable Theory of Everything in bioethics. For most problems in contemporary bioethics, existing principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and professional probity can do a reasonably workmanlike job if they are all allowed to contribute appropriately. But these are second order principles, each of which traces its origins back to dignity. And when one gets to the frontiers of bioethics (such as human enhancement), dignity is the only conceivable language with which to describe and analyse the strange conceptual creatures found there. Drawing on clinical, anthropological, philosophical and legal insights, Foster provides a new lexicon and grammar of that language which is essential reading for anyone wanting to travel in the outlandish territories of bioethics, and strongly recommended for anyone wanting to travel comfortably anywhere in bioethics or medical law.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847318602
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	218
File size:	593 KB

About the Author

Charles Foster is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. He teaches medical ethics and law at the University of Oxford, and is also a barrister practising medical law from Outer Temple Chambers, London.
Charles Foster is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford and a practising barrister.

Table of Contents

1. Beginnings
2. A Short History of Dignity
3. Defining and Dissecting Dignity
4. 'Dignity is Useless'
5. What do Non-philosophers and Non-lawyers Mean by Dignity?
6. Taking Stock of the View from the Academy and the Ward
7. Dignity in the Courtroom: General Overview
8. Consent, Confidentiality, Privacy, Medical Research and Resources
9. Human Enhancement and Cloning Technologies
10. Reproductive Choice and the Unborn
11. The End of Life
12. The Use and Abuse of Body Parts

Editorial Reviews

The book follows a well-conceived structure. Foster's style is pugnacious and self-assured, albeit dosed with a healthy injection of self-deprecation. He is careful to explain why he draws from the different sources he taps into, which encompass some of the lofty climes of theological, philosophical, and legal theory, as well as the less heady terrain of base intuition and (heaven forbid in a work on philosophical bioethics!) the views of practitioners, patients and lay people.

I would be happy to recommend the book to anyone in bioethics who is looking for a positive account of dignity, presented in a philosophical, legal, historical, social and professional context.

Foster's work presents a welcome challenge to ethical theorists in bioethics, and a fascinating account of how we might understand the substance and import of a particular concept of dignity.” —Journal of Law and Society, Volume 39, Number 4

“Students, in particular, would appreciate the availability of such a straightforward approach that would cover, as Foster seeks to do in just 66 pages, the intractable dilemmas associated with: consent, confidentiality, privacy, medical research and resources...human enhancement and cloning technologies...reproductive choice and the unborn...the end of life...and the use and abuse of body parts

Through this book, Foster has succeeded in provoking further consideration of the utility of dignity in bioethics and law” —Legal Studies, Volume 32(4)

“Foster's writing is wide-ranging and erudite. His call to the bioethics community to consider dignity is timely and makes for an engaging read.” —Triple Helix

“Charles Foster has written a book that is lively, engaging, and pacey [and] has surely done us a considerable service in provoking readers to think much more seriously about the centrality of human dignity in both biolaw and bioethics.” —Medical Law Review, Volume 20

“Foster has produced a very readable and engaging text with some interesting and relatable issues and anecdotes as illustrations to his thesis.

...it is an important book for people with an interest in this area to read, as it serves as a reminder of how significant the principle of dignity is in bioethics and law...Given the overwhelming praise for this book from some prominent names in the medical law and bioethics field, I strongly advise you to read this book and make up your own mind.” —Bionews, Issue 639

“Foster's latest book is highly stimulating, entertaining and accessible in its arguments…[it] is a fascinating and challenging work that can readily form the basis for sophisticated analysis of any of the hardest issues in contemporary bioethics. Its aspirations are framed at a high level but it realises most of them. It can be heartily recommended for all with an interest in the ethics of contemporary health care…It is a fine piece of work.” —Journal of Law and Medicine, Vol 22 No 3

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