This book offers an overview of the main questions arising when biomedical decision-making
intersects ethical decision-making. It reports on two ethical decision-making methodologies
one addressing the patients the other physicians. It shows how patients' autonomous choices
can be empowered by increasing awareness of ethical deliberation and at the same time it
supports healthcare professionals in developing an ethical sensitivity which they can apply in
their daily practice. The book highlights the importance and relevance of practicing bioethics
in the age of personalized medicine. It presents concrete cases studies dealing with cancer and
genetic diseases where difficult decisions need to be made by all the parties involved:
patients physicians and families. Decisions concern not only diagnostic procedures and
treatments but also moral values religious beliefs and ways of seeing life and death thus
adding further layers of complexity to biomedical decision-making. This book which is strongly
rooted in the philosophical tradition features non-directive counseling and
patient-centeredness. It provides a concise yet comprehensive and practice-oriented guide to
decision-making in modern healthcare.
