

Series: Corpus De Mosaiques
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: The Catholic University of America Press (November 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0813218829
ISBN-13: 978-0813218823
Product Dimensions: 1 x 6 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #300,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #196 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Ethics #229 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Theology > Systematic #483 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Theology > Ethics

I felt I had to write a review of this book after reading one of the prior reviews. Quite frankly, there is not enough ethics training even among educated people today. As a practicing physician, I have had to get most of my ethics training through self-education as there was very little of it in medical school or residency, and even then, the conversations seemed more like exercises in justification rather than scholarship based on true philosophical underpinnings. Fortunately, there are trustworthy, thoughtful sources such as the text written by Fr. Nicanor. Don't hesitate to buy this book, you will be in good hands.
I found Nicanor Pier Giorgio's book to be one of the better books on Catholic Bioethics. He thoroughly integrated faith and reason within the medical realm. This book will be one which I will go back to repeatedly.
Biomedicine and Beatitude by Nicanor Austriaco is a well-written and clearly worded book about Christian medical ethics. However, it becomes a much broader argument that people are overlooking "natural law" thanks to "medical breakthroughs." The chapter Bioethics and Human Procreation raises questions that not only argue on behalf of Catholicism, but on behalf of basic morals as well. One issue he brings up is how condoms can prevent pregnancy and HIV, but what if you're already engaging in risky behavior? Will condoms prevent all the other problems you can acquire? The chapter on organ donation doesn't deride the practice; on the contrary, he argues that it's a noble gesture. But at what point is the patient legally dead? Are you morally accountable if your donated kidney or heart wasn't donated at all, but taken without consent? Consent is another debate in this book with no concrete solution. The author makes very clear the church's opposition to in vitro fertilization and fertility drugs. Take Nadya Suleman, the infamous "Octomom" as an example (though she's not used expressly in this book.) She consented to having the embryos implanted in her uterus, so she wasn't forced to do anything. But should her physician have said no? Look at it this way; dogs and puppies have lots of nipples with which to feed their massive litters. But humans only have two, and rarely give birth in multiples. This is one aspect of Evolution that even the church would probably agree with.This book should be required reading for anyone considering a career in medicine. It's a great treatise on ethics.
Pertinent for any foing work in virtue studies. Key themes addressed. Worth the read. Buy this book together with Pinckaers' Reader if you would have fuller context for inderstandkng. Both great contributions. Highly recommend!
Austriaco is both scientist and a theologian, and his excellence in both fields shows. The book argues its positions in fidelity to both the Church and modern science. It is clearly written and never feels bogged down by jargon. As a theology professor, I intend to use the book with my own students and know colleagues that are already doing so. Excellent for the university classroom, for the inquiring scientist, and for the medical practitioner!
Biomedicine and Beatitude: An Introduction to Catholic Bioethics (Corpus De Mosaiques) Bioethics, Law, and Human Life Issues: A Catholic Perspective on Marriage, Family, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technology, and Death and Dying (Catholic Social Thought) An Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences: Production, Chemistry, Techniques and Technology (Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomedicine) Waking Up Catholic: A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts, Reverts, and Anyone Becoming Catholic Review and Pretest for NCCAOM and California Exams in Biomedicine Quality Assurance: Problem Solving and Training Strategies for Success in the Pharmaceutical and Life Science Industries (Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomedicine) Handbook of Cosmeceutical Excipients and their Safeties (Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomedicine) Neuroethics: An Introduction with Readings (Basic Bioethics) Glorious Gulf of Mexico: Life Below the Blue (Gulf Coast Books, sponsored by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) Texas Coral Reefs (Gulf Coast Books, sponsored by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) The Louisiana Coast: Guide to an American Wetland (Gulf Coast Books, sponsored by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) After Ike: Aerial Views from the No-Fly Zone (Gulf Coast Books, sponsored by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) Lighthouses of Texas (Gulf Coast Books, sponsored by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) Contemporary Corpus Linguistics (Contemporary Studies in Linguistics) Bioethics: Principles, Issues and Cases, 2nd Edition Bioethics: Principles, Issues, and Cases Bioethics for Beginners: 60 Cases and Cautions from the Moral Frontier of Healthcare Bioethics: An Anthology (Blackwell Philosophy Anthologies) Cases in Bioethics: Selections from the Hastings Center Report Medical Law, Ethics, & Bioethics for the Health Professions