Human Values In Critical Care Medicine

Review: ?This edited volume of articles explores one of the major ethical concerns raised by biomedical technology and its use with neonates and adults who are critically ill and dying. The nine authors of the seven articles are known for ethics writings, and they explore in varying detail the values of physicians and nurses that influence decisions concerning the use of life-sustaining medical treatment with ill adults and neonates.

Although heavily philosophical, the essays are clear and understandable for those in the health professions as well as educated consumers of health care. Specific areas of emphasis include values influencing decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment, allocation of scarce resources, organ trasplantation programs, and critical care nursing.

The volume contains an annotated review of the literature addressing the needs and concerns of families of critically ill patients whether child or adult. Articles are well referenced and represent state of the art knowledge in the field of bioethics and critical care decision making. Lower-division through graduate level collections.?-Choice