Bioethics and changing health care

The era of modern medicine has seen a wave of new technology and lifesaving treatments. But should we be asking tougher questions about these medical advances?

Air Date: September 5, 2019 10:00 am

(Bigstock)

Guests: Amy Gutmann, Jonathan Moreno

In this era of modern medicine, new technologies have ushered in new treatments and research that once seemed impossible. Cancer therapy and organ transplants save countless lives each year along with advances in mental health research and organ transplants. We have also witnessed the transformation from a “doctor knows best” approach to healthcare to a system based on patient-informed consent. These changes have raised a host of ethical issues about patient care and autonomy and the doctor-patient relationship. Today, University of Pennsylvania president and former chair of President Obama’s Bioethics Commission AMY GUTMANN and Penn professor and former senior adviser of the Bioethics Commission JONATHAN D. MORENO join us to discuss the role of bioethics in modern day medicine. Their new book is Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.