Examines specific teachings of the Church on over seventy issues in clinical and research ethics, including abortion, AIDS, artificial insemination, assisted suicide, cloning, contraception, euthanasia, gene therapy, health care reform, organ donation and transplantation, organizational ethics, stem cells, and, surrogate motherhood.

Part I: Understanding Church Teachings1: The View of the PersonMoral NormsNature and Cultural NeedsPerson in CommunityThe Notion of HealthThe Notion of Sickness and DeathThe Notion of SexualityConclusion 2: Normative ConceptsThe Conditions for Double EffectConcept of Legitimate CooperationScandalInformed ConsentTotalityDignity of the PersonCommon GoodPreferential Option for the PoorSubsidiarityParticipationAssociationSolidarityJustice 3: Formation of ConscienceMistaken Notions of ConscienceForming ConscienceFaith in the Formation of ConscienceFollowing ConscienceConscience is Not InfallibleVarious Levels of TeachingAssent is Prompted by the SpiritWithholding Assent and DissentSummary Part II: Specific Teachings of the Church4: Abortion"The Gospel of Life"Declaration on Procured Abortion"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Heath Care Services"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation"Pastoral Guidelines for the Catholic Hospital and Catholic Health Care Personnel"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 5: Advanced DirectivesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"The Rights of the Terminally Ill"Pastoral Letter" 6: Aging"Society and the Aged: Toward Reconciliation" 7: AIDS"Africa's AIDS Crisis"The Many Faces of AIDS: A Gospel Response"On Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS" 8: Alternative Therapies"Guidelines for Evaluating Reiki as an Alternative Therapy" 9: Anencephaly"Moral Principles Concerning Infants with Anencephaly"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services10: Artificial Insemination and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)"Instructions on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation"Christian Norms of Morality"The Gospel of Life"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services11: Assisted SuicideCatechism of the Catholic Church: Assisted Suicide"Living and Dying according to the Voice of Faith"Living and Dying Well"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services12: Autonomy"Evangelium vitae" 13: Autopsy"Moral Problems in Medicine" 14: Brain Death"Address of the Holy Father John Paul II to the 18th International Congress of the Transplantation Society"The Prolongation of Life"Guidelines for the Determination of Brain Death"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 15: Care for the Poor, or, Option for the Poor"Deus caritas est"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care ServicesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 16: Catholic Health CareGod Is Love"Health Care: Ministry in Transition"Making the Case for Not-for-Profit Health Care"The Rationale of Catholic Health Care"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services17: Catholic IdentityEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care ServicesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 18: Cloning"Document of the Holy See on Human Cloning"Life-giving Love in an Age of Technology"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 19: Confidentiality"Christian Principles and the Medical Profession"The Intangibility of the Human Person"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 20: Contraception"Encyclical Letter on the Regulation of Births"The Christian Family in the Modern World"Evangelium vitae"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 21: Death, Determination of"Determining the Moment When Death Occurs"Address to Participants at an International Congress Organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life"Address to the 18th International Congress on the Transplantation Society"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 22: Dignity of Person"Evangelium vitae"Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day" 23: Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)"Evangelium vitae"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 24: Durable Power of Attorney"Pastoral Letter"A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives in Illinois25: Ectopic PregnancyEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 26: EmbryosI. Nature of the Embryo"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation" II. Embryos: Stem Cells"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" III. Research on Embryos"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services IV. Freezing Embryos"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" V. Reduction of Embryos"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 27: Emergency Contraception"Emergency Contraception"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 28: Ethical and Religious Directives (ERD)Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care ServicesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 29: Ethics CommitteesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care ServicesContemporary Catholic Health Care Ethics30: Euthanasia"Evangelium vitae"Declaration on Euthanasia"The Mystery of Life and Death"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 31: Fertility AssistanceEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 32: Fetal Remains, Disposal of"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day" 33: Futile Care"Evangelium vitae"Declaration on Euthanasia"Mindful of the Common Good: Elections in New Zealand" 34: Gene Therapy"The Ethics of Gene Manipulation"Moral Aspects of Genetics"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 35: Genetic Testing and Counseling"Critical Decisions: Genetic Testing and Its Implications"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 36: Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT)"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day" 37: Government Mandates"State Mandates Employers Provide Contraceptive Benefits"State Mandated Emergency Contraception"The San Francisco Solution" 38: Handicapped, Access and Therapy"Pastoral Statement of the United States Catholic Bishops on Handicapped People" 39: Health Care Professionals"Evangelium vitae"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services I. Physicians"The Exalted Character of the Medical Profession"Catholic Doctors: Higher Witnesses" II. Nurses"The Nursing Vocation"Questions of Ethics Regarding the Fatally Ill and DyingIII. Pharmacists"The Responsibility of the Pharmacist" IV. AdministratorsEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 40: Health Care Reform"Resolution on Health Care Reform"Criteria for Evaluating Health Care Reform, United States Catholic Conference"Labor Day Statement 2009: Rebuilding the Economy, Reforming Health Care"USCCB's Vision of Health Care Reform"Health Care Coverage: Whose Responsibility?" 41: Hospice"Pastoral Care of the Sick and Imprisoned"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 42: Hydration and Nutrition, Assisted"To Participants in the International Congress on 'Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas'"Commentary"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 43: Induction of LaborEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 44: Infertility"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day" 45: Informed ConsentEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"The Intangibility of the Human Person" 46: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 47: In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transplant (IVF and ET)"Gospel of Life"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation" 48: Joint VenturesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"Catholic Health Care Collaborative Relationships" 49: Labor and Management Relations"Respecting the Just Rights of Catholic Health Care Workers"Health Care Workers' Conscience Rights Should Be Protected"A Fair and Just Workplace: Principles and Practices for Catholic Health Care"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 50: Living Will51: Natural Family Planning"Why Natural Family Planning Differs from Contraception"Natural Family Planning"Married Love and the Gift of Life"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 52: Non-Heart-Beating DonorsEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 53: Ordinary and Extraordinary Measures to Preserve Life"Evangelium vitae"The Prolongation of Life"Declaration on Euthanasia"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 54: Organ Donation and Transplantation"Gospel of Life"Blood and Organ Donors"Many Ethical, Legal, and Social Questions Must Be Examined in Greater Depth"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 55: Pain Relief"Gospel of Life"Declaration on Euthanasia"Christian Principles and the Medical Profession"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 56: Palliative Care"Evangelium vitae"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 57: Pastoral CareEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care ServicesEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 58: Physician-Assisted Suicide"Evangelium vitae"Living and Dying Well" 59: Preimplantation Diagnosis"Instruction Dignitas Personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Evangelium vitae" 60: Prenatal Adoption"Instruction Dignitas Personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person" 61: Proxy Consent"Declaration on Euthanasia"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"The Prolongation of Life" 62: Psychotherapy"The Moral Component of the Therapeutic Task"The Image of God in People with Mental Illness"On Psychotherapy and Religion63: Rape, Treatment of VictimsEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"Guidelines for Catholic Hospitals Treating Victims of Sexual Assault"Using the 'Morning-After Pill' in Cases of Rape" 64: Research on Human SubjectsEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation"Biological Experimentation" 65: Right to Health Care"Pastoral Letter on Health and Health Care"The Right to Health Care" 66: RU-486"RU-486: The Abortion Pill" 67: ScandalEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 68: Sexual AbuseEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 69: Stem Cells"Instruction Dignitas personae: Bioethical Questions and the Dignity of the Person"Statement on Embryonic Stem-Cell Research" 70: Sterilization"Removal of a Healthy Organ"Sterilization in Catholic Hospitals"Responses to Uterine Isolation and Related Matters"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 71: Suffering"The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering"Evangelium Vitae"Christian Principles and the Medical Profession" 72: Suicide"Gospel of Life"Declaration on Euthanasia" 73: Surgery"Surgery"Removal of a Healthy Organ"The Intangibility of the Human Person"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 74: Surrogate Mothers"Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation"New Jersey Bishops' Statement 'On Surrogate Motherhood'"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 75: Terminal SedationEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 76: Truth Telling"Christian Principles and the Medical Profession"Questions of Ethics Regarding the Fatally Ill and the DyingEthical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services77: Uterine Isolation"Responses on Uterine Isolation and Related Matters" 78: Withholding and Withdrawing Life Support"Gospel of Life"Declaration on Euthanasia"Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services Index

A clear and practical guide that informs faithful and serious moral thinking about important medical choices ... a trusted resource and proven roadmap to guide us along an important and challenging moral path. Theological Studies This fine book is primarily about the sources, both theological and moral, or Catholic moral teachings. The reader will find a clear and practical guide that informs faithful and series moral thinking about important medical choices... This new edition of a now classic book remains a trusted resource and proven roadmap to guide us along an important and challenging moral path. Theological Studies

If in your research or teaching, you’ve ever asked, 'Where does that teaching come from?' this book will provide the answer. Like its predecessors, the fourth edition provides direct references with ample textual citations from a multitude of official Church documents ranging from papal encyclicals to the ERDs to statements by national bishops’ conferences. The expansion of introductory sections on values, normative concepts and conscience in Church teaching as well as the integration of documents that relate to organizational ethics are both valuable additions. This text is an indispensable resource for ethicists, teachers of health care ethics, and health care professionals. For graduate students it provides ready access to source documents and context that internet searches cannot provide. In fact, it is a great find for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the reasoning behind the Church’s moral tradition on health care.

If in your research or teaching, you've ever asked, 'Where does that teaching come from?' this book will provide the answer. Like its predecessors, the fourth edition provides direct references with ample textual citations from a multitude of official Church documents ranging from papal encyclicals to the ERDs to statements by national bishops' conferences. The expansion of introductory sections on values, normative concepts and conscience in Church teaching as well as the integration of documents that relate to organizational ethics are both valuable additions. This text is an indispensable resource for ethicists, teachers of health care ethics, and health care professionals. For graduate students it provides ready access to source documents and context that internet searches cannot provide. In fact, it is a great find for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the reasoning behind the Church's moral tradition on health care. -- Charles Bouchard, OP, Ascension Health This updated edition of O'Rourke and Boyle's highly regarded compendium of Roman Catholic teachings and documents on medical ethics is an indispensable resource for health professionals in their daily work and for scholars and students wishing to stay abreast of the full range of professional discourse in bioethics. -- Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD, professor emeritus of medicine and medical ethics, Georgetown University This fourth edition is an invaluable volume. It brings together two seasoned theologians/ethicists, seasoned both in their intellectual preparation and experience in the clinical settings. They give us the Church's teaching in the Church's own words and an explanation of what it means in the clinical realities of today. Many clinicians, board members, and sponsors will benefit from this wonderful work. -- Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive officer, Catholic Health Association