re: medical ethics

jimbeh@ms.uky.edu
Thu, 23 May 1996 16:50:46 -0400 (EDT)

There was a brief thread a few days ago about medical ethics, but it seems
to have died. I would like to keep it going. I teach a class called
"Ethical Issues in Science," and about one-third of it refers to biomedical
ethical issues.

Kenneth Feucht comments about John Kilner's views in his posting of 16 May.
Ken writes "Kilner argues in his book Life on the Line that rationing is
imperative for American medicine to survive. He argued the same at the ASA
national conference recently. Yet, his thinking is based on an outdated . . ."
My copy doesn't make sense after this.

I did not perceive that Kilner was arguing that rationing was imperative, only
that we already have rationing. I felt that he was arguing that it was wrong.
Ken, can you refer me to the passage in Kilner's book that you are discussing?

I can't tell whether you support the concept of "universal health care." Will
you discuss this in more detail? It would be useful information for the
students in the course.

Thanks.

Jim Behnke, Asbury College, Wilmore, KY 40390 jimbeh@ms.uky.edu