encompasses philosophy, religion, sociology, gerontology, psychiatry, biomedical science, law, and nursing (to name a few), has been rapidly growing and developing over the last half-century. In order to get a handle on what “doing” bioethics entails, it is helpful to start with the basic philosophical foundations of bioethical theory and then consider a variety of trenchant issues that arise from the practice of medicine and the provision of health care services within an age of technology.   In constructing this textbook, the central aim has been to guide readers in developing a clear sense of how theory and practice are linked in the dynamic field of bioethics. Though new problems and issues in bioethics are constantly arising, it is important to focus on the persistence of foundational questions that apply to new contexts. 

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