AORN JOURNAL AUGUST 1990, VOL. 52, NO 2

Canada. Appendix 16 gives basic medical diagnoses and treatments in five languages, and appendix 18 contains pertinent sections on poisoning and drug abuse.

The 16th edition of Taber’s CyclopedicMedical Dictionary offers substantially more information, but with new featherweight paper, retains the handy, portable size. It remains a classic, and I consider it a valuable and necessary reference for every professional in nursing. It is available from the F A Davis Co, 1915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

N. JOANNE GUINN, RN, BS STAFF NURSE/OR

MCKEE MEDICAL CENTER LOVELAND, COLO

ETHICS

Principles of Biomedical Ethics, third ed. By Tom L. Beauchamp, James E ChiUress 1 9 8 9 , 4 7 0 ~ ~ $39.95 clothbound

The first edition of Principres of Biomedical Ethics was published in 1977 when biomedical ethics was in its embryonic stages. The second edition appeared in 1982 after tremendous changes occurred in the literature on biomedical ethics. This third edition follows the basic structure of its predecessor, but contains large bodies of completely new material in every chapter (eg, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, artificial nutrition, hydration). Material from previous editions has been updated and incorporated in the text if relevant, or deleted if not. The authors have included new case studies and retained and updated those from previous editions.

The book begins with arguments surrounding the definitions attached to moral and ethical theories. The authors conclude that there is no fully satisfactory general ethical theory by which a universal code of professional ethics can be formulated and agreed upon. Nevertheless, it is imperative to map out people’s factual, conceptual, and moral claims, and anticipate and respond to reasonable objections to their arguments and solutions. The authors agree that contemporary

biomedical ethics theory suffers from its distance from clinical practice and traditions of medical and nursing ethics.

The authors survey broad types of ethical theories and delineate their strengths and weaknesses. Morality, according to the authors, is founded on the principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice.

The authors consider professional-patient relationships in regard to how veracity, fidelity, confidentiality, and privacy affect how rules based on moral principles are made and the conflicts that arise from them. Beyond the principles and rules that determine morally required actions, moral ideas, virtues, and convictions of conscience result in moral character. This supports and enriches the moral framework Beauchamp and childress set forth.

The authors make it clear that ethical theory does not create the morality that guides profes- sionals’ decisions and actions, but it does cast light on and supplement that morality.

Each chapter of this book ends with a brief summary and excellent notes regarding source materials. The appendix contains 38 case studies. It is a book that should be read by any health care professional who senses the need for, is involved with, or has questions about moral issues and biomedical ethics, whether on a personal or professional level.

The book is available from Oxford University Press, 200 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016.

MARJORIE A. COLLINS, BA ASSISTANT TO EDUCATION AND

RESEARCH COORDINATOR SIM INTERNATIONAL

CHARLUITE, NC

NURSING IMAGE

Images of Nurses: Perspectives from History, Art, and Literature Edited by Anne Huhn Jones 1 9 8 8 , 2 5 3 ~ ~ $14.95 paperback

Nurses are confined by the image of nursing

416