Springer Informed Consent, Proxy Consent, and Catholic Bioethics: For the Good of the Subject: 112 (Philosophy and Medicine, 112)

This work offers a comprehensive understanding rooted in Catholic anthropology and moral theory of the meaning and limits of informed and proxy consent to experimentation on human subjects. In particular, it seeks to articulate the rationale for proxy consent in both therapeutic and nontherapeutic settings. As to the former, the book proposes that the Golden Rule, recognizing the basic inclinations of human nature toward objective goods perfective of human persons, should underpin the notion of proxy consent to experimentation on humans. As to the latter, an additional scrutiny of the amount of risk involved is necessary, since the risk-benefit ratio frequently invoked to justify higher-risk therapeutic research does not exist in its nontherapeutic counterpart. This study discusses a number of possible solutions to this question and develops a position that builds upon the objective notion of the human good. Review From the reviews:“This book presents an in-depth analysis of informed consent and proxy consent … and offers a robust anthropology and virtue ethic consistent with Roman Catholic teaching to justify and guide these principles. … The book is researched and written at a high academic level, but it is also very accessible and would be appropriate for philosophers, bioethicists, physicians, researchers, students, and interested readers. … this book is wonderfully refreshing in its analysis, argumentation, and thesis. … an important work in both secular and Catholic bioethics.” (Gina M. Fullam, Doody’s Review Service, May, 2011) From the Back Cover This work offers a comprehensive understanding rooted in Catholic anthropology and moral theory of the meaning and limits of informed and proxy consent to experimentation on human subjects. In particular, it seeks to articulate the rationale for proxy consent in both therapeutic and nontherapeutic settings. As to the former, the book proposes that the Golden Rule, recognizing the basic inclinations of human nature toward objective goods perfective of human persons, should underpin the notion of proxy consent to experimentation on humans. As to the latter, an additional scrutiny of the amount of risk involved is necessary, since the risk-benefit ratio frequently invoked to justify higher-risk therapeutic research does not exist in its nontherapeutic counterpart. This study discusses a number of possible solutions to this question and develops a position that builds upon the objective notion of the human good.