Bioethics Yearbook

The "Bioethics Yearbook" alternates between a biennial volume tracing recent theological discussions on topics in bioethics and a biennial volume tracing recent regional discussions in bioethics. Volume Two provides a comprehensive summary of recent international and regional developments on specific topics in bioethics. To give uniformity to the discussions all authors were asked to report on the following topics: new reproductive technologies; abortion; maternal-foetal conflicts; the case of severely disabled newborns; consent of treatment and experimentation; confidentiality; equitable access to health care; ethical concerns raised by cost-containment measures; decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment; active euthanasia; the definition of death; and organ donation and transplantation.The commentators draw on three sets of resources: statutes, legislative proposals and regulatory changes that directly influence or have implications for areas of bioethical concern; case law and court judgments that shape recent legal interpretations of particular issues of areas in bioethics; and formal statements of governmentally appointed commissions, advisory bodies and representative professional groups, as well as less formal statements and recommendations of other organizations.