Humanistic Perspectives in Medical Ethics Edited by Maurice B. Visscher (review)

Humanistic Perspectives in Medical Ethics. Edited by Maurice B. Visscher. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 1972. Pp. 297. $11.95. I call attention to diis book as important for anyone interested in the ethics of biomedical interventions and shall not attempt to review much of its content. The editor, Maurice B. Visscher, has been concerned with the humanistic aspects of science during all of his fruitful life in medical education and research. The authors of the 14 individual chapters have been well selected. They cover the history of medical ethics (Chauncey Leake) and philosophical bases of medical ethics (Patrick Romanell), to more pragmatic chapters (as by Walter C. Alvarez and Louis Lasagna). In common with almost all considerations of rights to health, too little is said of preventive medicine. Dwight J. Ingle University of Chicago Things that are biotic Perforce are chaotic, 'T were made thus by the Creator, Life always is hectic, Disturbed, apoplectic, There must be a raison d'être. Carl A. Dragstedt 482 J Book Reviews THE ANTIOMEGA-MINUS BARYON, AN ANTIPARTICLE The physicists have found a thing, They call an anti-particle; And they have warned the whole wide world, In a hair-raising article. It seems this thing, if it's not curbed, Could uncreate creation; And there would then be nothing leftNo Damnation, no Salvation. The threat of just mere nothingness, Leaves me sort of blank; You see I cannot comprehend, Without a real think-tank. TRANSFUSION HEPATITIS Transfusion hepatitis Has reared its ugly head. It's a disease that's hard to cure, And sometimes leaves one dead. It's caused by using blood from punks, Who sell their blood quite often, Instead of blood from relatives And friends, whose hearts will soften. Transfusion hepatitis Is a thing that need not be, It's caused by dirty blood that's sold, And not by blood that's free. Carl A. Dragstedt Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Spring 1973 I 483 ...