Arnold Melnick

Ethical Problems in Pediatrics: a Dozen Dilemmas Arnold Melnick 1st edition

In this book, twelve captivating and down-to-earth ethical dilemmas are presented in an interactive learning mode. "Ethics" generally conjures up visions of unusual life-and-death problems. However, health professionals - at every level and in every field -- sooner or later face more mundane situations involving ethical and moral decisions. Twelve of these interesting, challenging, day-to-day situations are thoroughly presented in this work. Each of these (some actual, some created to illustrate) is isolated on an individual page, allowing the reader an unhampered chance to apply his or her own thoughts, ideas and options. On the page following, the author presents a set of possible action-options from which health professional can choose; again, the reader, without the distraction of "answers" on the same page, can think through the problems alone - and even select the "best" one. This is followed by the author's discussion/opinion of each option and concludes with some general ethical considerations. Supplementing this is an unusual presentation: each situation is followed by a Second Opinion, offered by a health professional expert other than the author -- some in agreement, some not. Together, this approach exposes the reader to multiple choices and an opportunity to consider actively a number of ethical problems. This creates a self-instructive, inter-active learning process, something not generally found in print. On the other hand, this work can be read strictly as a pleasurable book, transmitting ethical information and allowing the reader to enjoy and think about these situations.