Medicine and morality : crises in the history of a profession / Helen Kang.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kang, Helen, 1979- author.

Contributor:

Beth & Matthew Mezvinsky Collection Fund for Modern Philosophy.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Medical ethics--Canada.

Medical ethics.

Physicians--Professional ethics--Canada.

Physicians.

Medical ethics--Canada--History.

Physicians--Professional ethics--Canada--History.

Conflict of interests--Canada.

Conflict of interests.

Ethics, Medical--history.

Conflict of Interest.

Physicians--ethics.

Physicians--Professional ethics.

History.

Canada.

Medical Subjects:

Ethics, Medical--history.

Conflict of Interest.

Physicians--ethics.

Canada.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

x, 158 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Vancouver ; Toronto : UBC Press, [2019]

Summary:

"Medical professionals are expected to act in the interest of patients, the public, and the pursuit of medical knowledge. Their disinterested pursuit offers them credibility and authority. But what happens when doctors' supposed impartiality comes under fire? Medicine and Morality considers the ways in which moral and scientific norms in Canadian medicine have emerged and evolved over time. Critics of biomedicine tend to discuss conflict of interest as a contemporary phenomenon - namely in relation to the damaging influence of the pharmaceutical industry on medical practice and research. But Helen Kang examines three moments in the history of the medical profession in Canada, spanning more than 150 years, when doctors' moral and scientific authority was questioned. Kang shows that, in these moments of crisis, the profession was compelled to re-examine its priorities, strategize in order to regain credibility, and redefine what it means to be a good doctor. Medicine and Morality reveals that professional medicine defines integrity, objectivity, accountability, neutrality, and other ideals according to its social, political, historical, and economic struggles with the state, the media, and even the public. In other words, moral and scientific standards in medicine are determined in direct relation to, not in spite of, conflict of interest."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Toward a theory of medical disintrestedness

A brotherhood of scientific gentlemen

Building bridges, making amends

The paradox of medical publishing

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 143-151) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Beth & Matthew Mezvinsky Collection Fund for Modern Philosophy.

Other Format:

Online version: Kang, Helen, 1979- Medicine and morality.

ISBN:

9780774862127

0774862122

OCLC:

1110668810

Publisher Number:

99983747557