A bioethic of obligations and responsibilities, based on the Jewish tradition
The Jewish tradition has important perspectives, history, and wisdom that can contribute significantly to crucial contemporary healthcare deliberations. Care and Covenant: A Jewish Bioethic of Responsibility demonstrates how numerous classic Jewish texts can add new ideas to the world of medicine today. Rabbi Jason Weiner draws on fifteen years of experience working in a hospital as a practitioner to develop an “ethic of responsibility.”
This book seeks to develop an approach to bioethical dilemmas that is primarily informed by personal and communal obligations as well as social responsibilities. Weiner applies unique and inspiring values found in Judaism to encourage healthcare providers to remain dedicated to preventing harm and providing care to all. Each chapter investigates relevant philosophical questions such as what the expectations of a society or government are and what we should do when our obligations to others violate our own moral principles, safety, or ability to assist.
Care and Covenant provides analytical, philosophical, and evidence-based scholarship to guide discussions on ethics in healthcare.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. Self-Endagerment in Medical Experimentation and Modern History
2. Allocation and Distribution of Scarce Resources
3. Uuniversal Health Care
4. Jewish Hospitals in America Today
5. Brain Death and Conflict Mitigation
6. Unrepresented Patients
7. Conscientious Objection
8. Self-Care in Challenging Times
9. Conclusion
Reviews
"Weiner has written a fascinating book dealing with some of the most vexing and complex medical issues we face. Its only shortcoming is that at just over 100 pages, this book needs to be significantly longer given the breadth of topics and Weiner’s writing talents."—Jewish Link
"An original contribution to religion and bioethics, written by a rabbi and scholar. Steeped in the wisdom of his tradition, Weiner brings a faith perspective that is informed by chaplaincy and spiritual care. It is rare to have such writing informed by so much academic knowledge and clinical experience."—Nathan Carlin, director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, McGovern Medical School
"Jason Weiner adeptly addresses complex issues like risk-taking, proxy decision-making, conflicting convictions, allocating scarce resources, and much more—in tightly argued, well-researched, accessible, brief, and balanced chapters. A wonderful resource for thinking about Jewish responsibility and bioethics beyond the bedside."—Jonathan K. Crane, PhD, professor of medicine and the Raymond F. Schinazi Scholar in Bioethics and Jewish Thought,the Center for Ethics, Emory University
"Care and Covenant is unlike any other offering in Jewish bioethics. A masterful legal discourse of complex particular ethical issues that also sheds light on the oft-ignored social dimensions at the very foundations of healthcare in the Jewish tradition. Weiner’s thoughtful and creative exploration of these issues will enlighten and delight patient, doctor, ethicist, and rabbi alike."—Edward Reichman, professor of emergency medicine, Einstein College of Medicine, Isaac and Bella Tendler Chair of Jewish Bioethics at Yeshiva University, author of The Anatomy of Jewish Law,
"Modern medicine has significantly intensified ethical dilemmas. Bioethicists, theologians, policymakers, jurists, and others are constantly struggling to solve these problems. Rabbi Weiner eloquently presents a unique approach—a combination of duty and responsibility, combined with compassion, based on Jewish sources and practical clinical experience. I strongly recommend this book to all interested in medical ethics."—Professor Avraham Steinberg, MD, director, Medical Ethics Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem
About the Author
Jason Weiner is the senior rabbi and director of the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is a board-certified chaplain and has earned two rabbinic ordinations and a doctorate in clinical bioethics from the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics at Loyola University Chicago.
