Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 9e
James F Childress author Tom L Beauchamp author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:2nd Feb '26
Should be back in stock very soon

The classic work that has shaped the field of biomedical ethics, fully updated to include cutting-edge approaches and research. Principles of Biomedical Ethics provides a highly original, insightful, and practical guide to morality in the health professions, health policy, and public health. Acclaimed authors Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress thoroughly develop and advocate for four principles that lie at the core of moral reasoning in health care: respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. Drawing from contemporary research - and integrating detailed case studies and vivid real-life examples and scenarios - they demonstrate how these prima facie principles can be used to address various conflicts and dilemmas, from how to deliver bad news to the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments. Ideal for courses in biomedical ethics, bioethics, and health care ethics, the text is enhanced by hundreds of annotated citations, along with key terms and concepts. It is accompanied by additional online resources for instructors.
Such a combination of accessibility and rigor is rarely attained. With each successive edition, this outstanding book gets even better." - Allen Buchanan, Duke University and Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College, London
How many books can be said to have shaped a field of study for decades, and to have helped institutionalize that field around the world? It is hard to imagine what bioethics would be like without Principles of Biomedical Ethics." - Jonathan Moreno, University of Pennsylvania
This book is a must-read for beginners in the field as well as for more advanced scholars." - Ruth Macklin, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The Bible of bioethics. Everyone working in the field should have a copy. Over twenty-five years I have come to realize that these are the four principles of practical ethics. In every analysis, I find myself drawn to using them." - Julian Savulescu, University of Oxford
Principles of Biomedical Ethics is one of the enduring and indispensable contributions to bioethics. It is always a valuable source of information and insight for those of us who are veterans in the field, and even more so for those new to the field in the classroom. Its regular updating is itself of great value, catching new issues that appear." - Daniel Callahan, Co-founder of The Hastings Center
Over the past forty years Beauchamp and Childress's Principles of Biomedical Ethics has become synonymous with bioethics. This venerable text has only gotten better with age." - Joseph Fins, Weill Cornell Medicine and Yale Law School
Principles of Biomedical Ethics is a standard in the field, and for good reason. With each edition, Beauchamp and Childress focus on not only updating the examples and cases to represent the state of the discipline, but also on refining their arguments and views." - Tracie Mahaffey, Florida State University
I would rate this book overall as excellent. It's a rare work that is both scholarly and rigorous but also useful as a teaching instrument. The authors' writing is clear and engaging." - Kayhan Parsi, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
I looked long and hard to identify a textbook for the ethics course I teach. I think I have reviewed most of what is available. By far this textbook is the best." - Barbara D'Anna, SUNY Delhi
The overall quality is exceptional. This classic work has many strengths, not least of which is its comprehensive introductory material on moral foundations; this introduction is one of the strongest introductions to morality of any text (in biomedical ethics and otherwise) I've used." - David Paul, Western Michigan University
ISBN: 9780197832639
Dimensions: 234mm x 160mm x 23mm
Weight: 853g
528 pages
9th Revised edition