Health care has hardly changed

The conceptually inadequate culture of conventional health care has hardly changed at all since I wrote the first edition of this book. The medical system continues to confuse clinical technique with health work; ‘ethicist’ tell clinical students they must obey moral rules and principles if they want to be ethical; and countless opportunities to improve health go begging every day because most health professionals don’t reflect deeply enough on the purpose of their work.Health and medical ethics texts – this one included will never change this situation.But this is no reason to despair – change takes time and time brings fresh opportunity. Today the ideas contained in the first two editions have been turned into software which is increasingly being used in health care training and practice.