Clinical Ethics

Mr. Ito’s children act as his informal translators, but his doctor isn’t sure their translations are accurate or complete. Is Mr. Ito getting the medical information he needs?

Ten-year-old Hannah arrives for her checkup with a bruised nose and an irritable father. Medical student Melanie is concerned for Hannah’s safety but wary of making accusations without evidence.

Dr. Joshi worries that her patient is putting her husband, who is also Dr. Joshi’s patient, at risk by concealing a sexually transmitted disease. How can she act in the interest of both husband and wife without compromising doctor-patient confidentiality?

Using the accessible and richly layered medium of comics, this collection reveals how ethical dilemmas in medical practice play out in real life. Designed for the classroom, Clinical Ethics provides an excellent introduction to medical ethics and presents case studies that will spark meaningful discussions among students and practitioners. The topics covered include patient autonomy, informed consent, unconscious bias, mandated reporting, confidentiality, medical mistakes, surrogate decision-making, and futility. The “Questions for Further Reflection” and “Related Readings” sections provide additional materials for a deeper exploration of the issues.

Co-created by experts in clinical medicine, ethics, literature, and comics, Clinical Ethics presents a new way for students and practitioners to engage with fundamental concerns in medical ethics.