Trans Medicine: The Emergence and Practice of Treating Gender

Abstract

advances and applications of palliative care, contributes to non-medical suicides, and creates financial conflicts of interest, for example. Whatever one thinks about the question of ‘dignity,’ Kaczor argues that the extended burdens of euthanasia outweigh the possible benefits. The chapters on conscientious objection focus specifically on conscientious objection to abortion, though Kaczor’s arguments have broader application. He defends conscientious objection against several arguments. He points out, for example, that appeals to professional standards to deny conscientious objection are self-refuting, since professional standards of medical associations presently allow for conscientious objection. Furthermore, abortion is not self-evidently medically beneficial – abortion interrupts the healthy functioning of a uterus, abortion never benefits the fetus, and there is empirical evidence that abortions are more detrimental to women’s health than pregnancy. Kaczor also argues that there are costs to denying conscientious objection, especially to minority populations, since it would decrease general health care supply. Whether one thinks these costs are too great, however, will depend on what one thinks about the necessity of widespread access to abortion. He then argues that such considerations are ultimately beside the point. The relevant issue is not patient interests or the availability of services (since the decisions and rights of physicians often override such considerations), but whether an objector (or an objecting institution) should be forced to perform or participate (even by proxy) in what they believe is murder. Disputes in Bioethics works best as a way for those already acquainted with the basic issues of bioethics to get a sense of the contemporary literature on a variety of topics from the perspective of natural law theory. The essays are insightful and wide-ranging, with helpful discussions of concepts that are too often taken for granted. It is especially well-suited for upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in bioethics.