Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What Kind of Doing is Clinical Ethics?

  • Published:
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of Richard M. Zaner’s work on clinical ethics for answering the question: what kind of doing is ethics consultation? The paper argues first, that four common approaches to clinical ethics – applied ethics, casuistry, principlism, and conflict resolution – cannot adequately address the nature of the activity that makes up clinical ethics; second, that understanding the practical character of clinical ethics is critically important for the field; and third, that the practice of clinical ethics is bound up with the normative commitments of medicine as a therapeutic enterprise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • G.J. Agich (1990) ArticleTitleClinical Ethics: A Role Theoretic Look Social Science & Medicine 30 389–399

    Google Scholar 

  • G.J. Agich (1995) ArticleTitleAuthority in Ethics Consultation The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 23 273–283

    Google Scholar 

  • G.J. Agich (2000) “Why Should Anyone Listen to an Ethics Consultant?” H.T Engelhardt SuffixJr. (Eds) The Philosophy of Medicine. Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht/Boston 117–137

    Google Scholar 

  • G.J. Agich (2001) ArticleTitleThe Question of Method in Ethics Consultation American Journal of Bioethics 1 IssueID4 31–41

    Google Scholar 

  • G.J. Agich B. Spielman (1997) ArticleTitleEthics Expert Testimony: Against the Skeptics The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 22 381–403

    Google Scholar 

  • M.P. Aulisio R.M. Arnold S.J. Youngner (1999) ArticleTitleAn Ongoing Conversation: The Task Force Report and Bioethics Consultation Journal of Clinical Ethics 10 IssueID1 3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • T.L. Beauchamp (1982) ArticleTitleWhat Philosophers Can Offer Hastings Center Report 12 IssueID3 13–14

    Google Scholar 

  • T.L. Beauchamp (1984) ArticleTitleOn Eliminating the Distinction between Applied Ethics and Ethical Theory Monist 67 IssueID4 514–531

    Google Scholar 

  • T.L. Beauchamp (2000) ArticleTitleReply to Strong on Principlism and Casuistry The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 25 IssueID3 342–347

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Brody (1993) ArticleTitleWhen Bioethicists Shouldn’t Testify in Court Ethics-In-Formation 6 IssueID1 3–6

    Google Scholar 

  • A.L. Caplan (1980) ArticleTitleEthical Engineers Need Not Apply: The State of Applied Ethics Today Science, Technology, & Human Values 6 IssueID33 24–32

    Google Scholar 

  • A.L. Caplan (1982) ArticleTitleMechanics on Duty: The Limitations of a Technical Definition of Moral Expertise for Work in Applied Ethics Canadian Journal of Philosophy 8 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • A.L. Caplan (1983) ArticleTitleCan Applied Ethics be Effective in Health Care and Should It Strive to Be? Ethics 93 311–319

    Google Scholar 

  • A.L. Caplan (1991) ArticleTitleBioethics on Trial Hastings Center Report 21 IssueID2 19–20

    Google Scholar 

  • D.J. Casarett F. Daskal J. Lantos (1998) ArticleTitleExperts in Ethics? The Authority of the Clinical Ethicist Hastings Center Report 28 IssueID6 6–11

    Google Scholar 

  • K.D. Clouser (1995) ArticleTitleCommon Morality as an Alternative to Principlism Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 5 IssueID3 219–236

    Google Scholar 

  • K.D. Clouser B. Gert (1990) ArticleTitleA Critique of Principlism The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 15 IssueID2 219–236

    Google Scholar 

  • N. Daniels (1979) ArticleTitleWide Reflective Equilibrium and Theory Acceptance in Ethics The Journal of Philosophy and Ethics 76 IssueID5 256–282

    Google Scholar 

  • N Daniels (1996) Justice and Justification: Reflective Equilibrium in Theory and Practice. Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Degrazia (1992) ArticleTitleMoving Forward in Bioethical Theory: Theories, Cases, and Specified Principlism The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 17 IssueID5 511–539

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Delgado P.G. McAllen (1982) ArticleTitleThe Moralist as Expert Witness Boston University Law Review 62 869–926

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Downie (1992) ArticleTitleHealth Care Ethics and Casuistry Journal of Medical Ethics 18 61–62

    Google Scholar 

  • N.N. Dubler L.J. Marcus (1994) Mediating Bioethics Disputes: A Practical Guide. United Hospital Fund of New York New York

    Google Scholar 

  • E.J. Emanuel (1995) ArticleTitleThe Beginning of the End of Principlism Hastings Center Report 25 IssueID4 37–38

    Google Scholar 

  • J.H. Evans (2000) ArticleTitleA Sociological Account of the Growth of Principlism Hastings Center Report 30 IssueID5 31–38

    Google Scholar 

  • J.C. Fletcher (1997) ArticleTitleBioethics in a Legal Forum: Confessions of an ‘Expert’ Witness The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 22 IssueID4 297–324

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Gert C.M. Culver K.D. Clouser (2000) ArticleTitleCommon Morality Versus Specified Principlism: Reply to Richardson The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 25 IssueID3 308–322

    Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Glover D.T. Ozar D.C. Thomasma (1986) ArticleTitleTeaching Ethics on Rounds: The Ethicist as Teacher, Consultant, and Decision-maker Theoretical Medicine 7 IssueID1 13–32

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Green B. Gert K.D. Clouser (1993) ArticleTitleThe Method of Public Morality Versus the Method of Principlism The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 18 IssueID5 477–489

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Guinan (2002) ArticleTitleCan Principlism Save Medical Ethics? The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 2 IssueID2 229–234

    Google Scholar 

  • A.S. Iltis (2000) ArticleTitleBioethics as Methodological Case Resolution: Specification, Specified Principlism and Casuistry The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 25 IssueID3 271–284

    Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Jonsen (1983) ArticleTitleWatching the Doctor New England Journal of Medicine 108 IssueID25 1531–1535

    Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Jonsen (1986) ArticleTitleCasuistry and Clinical Ethics Theoretical Medicine 7 IssueID1 65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Jonsen (1990) ArticleTitleCase Analysis in Clinical Ethics Journal of Clinical Ethics 1 IssueID1 63–65

    Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Jonsen (1991) ArticleTitleCasuistry as Methodology in Clinical Ethics Theoretical Medicine 12 IssueID 4 295–307

    Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Jonsen S. Toulmin (1988) The Abuse of Casuistry: A History of Moral Reasoning University of California Press Berkeley, no. Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  • N.M. King (1999) ArticleTitleWho Ate the Apple? A Commentary on the Core Competencies Report HEC Forum 11 IssueID2 170–175

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Kipnis (1997) ArticleTitleConfessions of an Expert Ethics Witness The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 22 IssueID4 325–343

    Google Scholar 

  • LM. Kopelman (1990) ArticleTitleWhat is Applied About ‘‘Applied’’ Philosophy? The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 15 IssueID2 199–218

    Google Scholar 

  • L.M. Kopelman (1994) ArticleTitleCase Method and Casuistry: the Problem of Bias Theoretical Medicine 15 IssueID1 21–37

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Kuczewski (1998) ArticleTitleCasuistry and Principlism: the Convergence of Method in Biomedical Ethics Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 19 IssueID6 509–524

    Google Scholar 

  • J. LaPuma E.R. Priest (1992) ArticleTitleMedical Staff Privileges for Ethics Consultants: An Institutional Model Quality Review Bulletin 18 17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • J. LaPuma D.L. Schiedermayer (1990) ArticleTitleMust the Ethics Consultant See the Patient? Journal of Clinical Ethics 1 IssueID1 56–59

    Google Scholar 

  • J. LaPuma D.L. Schiedermayer (1992) ArticleTitleThe Clinical Ethicist at the Bedside Theoretical Medicine 12 285–292

    Google Scholar 

  • B.A. Lustig (1992) ArticleTitleThe Method of ‘Principlism’: a Critique of the Critique The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 17 IssueID5 487–510

    Google Scholar 

  • F.H. Marsh (1992) ArticleTitleWhy Physicians Should Not Do Ethics Consultations Theoretical Medicine 13 IssueID3 285–292

    Google Scholar 

  • D.B. Mishkin (1997) ArticleTitle “Proffering Bioethicists as Experts” The Judges’ Journal 36 IssueID3 50–51

    Google Scholar 

  • C.N. Noble (1982) ArticleTitleEthics and Experts Hastings Center Report 12 IssueID3 7–9

    Google Scholar 

  • C.N. Noble (1982) ArticleTitle“Response” Hastings Center Report 12 IssueID3 15

    Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Paris (1984) ArticleTitleAn Ethicist Takes the Stand Hastings Center Report 14 IssueID1 32–33

    Google Scholar 

  • E.D. Pellegrino (1999) ArticleTitle“Clinical Ethics Consultations: Some Reflections on the Report of the SHHV-SBC” Journal of Clinical Ethics 10 IssueID1 5–12

    Google Scholar 

  • E.D. Pellegrino V.A. Sharpe (1989) ArticleTitleMedical Ethics in the Courtroom: The Need for Scrutiny Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 32 547–564

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Quante A. Vieth (2002) ArticleTitleDefending Principlism Well Understood The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 27 IssueID6 621–649

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Rawls (1951) ArticleTitleOutline of a Decision Procedure for Ethics The Philosophical Review 60 IssueID2 177–197

    Google Scholar 

  • D.F. Reynolds (1994) ArticleTitle‘Consultectonics: Ethics Committee Case Consultation as Mediation” Bioethic Forum 10 IssueID4 54–60

    Google Scholar 

  • J.W. Ross (1999) ArticleTitleThe Task Force Report: Comprehensible Forest or Unknown Beetles? Journal of Clinical Ethics 10 IssueID1 26–33

    Google Scholar 

  • D Rothman (1992) Strangers at the Bedside: A History of How Law and Bioethics Transformed Medical Decision. Basic Books New York

    Google Scholar 

  • A Schütz (1967) The Phenomenology of the Social World. Northwestern University Press Evanston, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • A Schütz (1970) Reflections on the Problem of Relevance. Yale University Press New Haven, CT

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Schütz T. Luckmann (1973) The Structures of the Lift-World Northwestern University Press Evanston, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • G.R. Scofield (1993) ArticleTitleEthics Consultation: The Least Dangerous Profession? Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 2 417–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Scofield, G.R. “Is the Medical Ethicist an ‘Expert’?” ABA Bioethics Bulletin 3 (1994): 1–2, 9–10, 28.

  • M. Siegler (1981) ArticleTitleCautionary Advice for Humanists Hastings Center Report 11 IssueID2 19–20

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Singer (1988) Ethical Experts in a Democracy D.M. Rosenthal F. Shehadi (Eds) Applied Ethics and Ethical Theory University of Utah Press Salt Lake City 149–161

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Spielman (2001) ArticleTitleHas Faith in Health Care Ethics Consultants Gone Too Far? Risks of an Unregulated Practice and a Model Act to Contain Them Marquette Law Review 85 IssueID1 161–221

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Spielman G.J. Agich (1999) ArticleTitleThe Future of Bioethics Testimony: Guidelines for Determining Qualifications, Reliability, and Helpfulness San Diego Law Review 36 IssueID4 1043–1075

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Stevenson (1970) ArticleTitleApplied Philosophy Metaphilosophy 1 IssueID3 258–267

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameTask Force on Standards for Bioethics Consultations (1998) Core Competencies for Health Care Ethics Consultation. American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Glenview, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • D.C. Thomasma (1991) ArticleTitleWhy Philosophers Should Offer Ethics Consultations Theoretical Medicine 12 IssueID2 129–140

    Google Scholar 

  • W.K. Thompson (1987) ArticleTitleJames O. Young’s Attack on Applied Ethics (Letter to the Editor) Journal of Applied Ethics 3 83–84

    Google Scholar 

  • S.E. Toulmin (1982) ArticleTitleHow Medicine Saved The Life of Ethics Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 25 IssueID4 736–749

    Google Scholar 

  • M.B. West J.M. Gibson (1992) ArticleTitleFacilitating Medical Ethics Case Review: What Ethics Committees Can Learn from Mediation and Facilitation Techniques Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 1 IssueID1 63–74

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Wikler (1982) ArticleTitleEthicists, Critics, and Expertise Hastings Center Report 12 IssueID3 12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Yarborough (1997) ArticleTitleThe Reluctant Retained Witness: Alleged Sexual Misconduct in the Doctor/Patient Relationship The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 22 IssueID4 345–364

    Google Scholar 

  • J.O. Young (1986) ArticleTitleThe Immorality of Applied Ethics The International Journal of Applied Philosophy 3 IssueID2 37–43

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M Zaner (1974) ArticleTitleThe Unanchored Leaf: Humanities and the Discipline of Care Texas Reports on Biology and Medicine 32 IssueID1 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Zaner (1984) ArticleTitleIs ‘Ethicist’ Anything to Call a Philosopher Human Studies 7 71–90

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M Zaner (1988) Ethics and the Clinical Encounter. Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Zaner (1990) ArticleTitleMedicine and Dialogue The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 15 IssueID3 303–325

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Zaner (1993) ArticleTitleVoices and Time: The Venture of Clinical Ethics the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 18 IssueID1 9–31

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M Zaner (1993) Troubled Voices: Stories of Ethics and Illness. Pilgrim Press Cleveland, OH

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioethics/NA10, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, U.S.A.

    George J. Agich

Authors
  1. George J. Agich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George J. Agich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Agich, G.J. What Kind of Doing is Clinical Ethics?. Theor Med Bioeth 26, 7–24 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-004-4802-6

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-004-4802-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation