C. Ben Mitchell
C. Ben Mitchell (PhD, University of Tennessee) is Graves Chair of Moral Philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and an ordained minister with pastoral experience.
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This item will be available on September 1, 2025
In Bioethics and Medicine: A Short Companion, C. Ben Mitchell challenges the prevailing view of bioethics as solely a matter of expert problem-solving. Instead, he argues that the ethics of medicine is deeply rooted in an ancient profession with a rich moral heritage. This heritage, embodied in the Hippocratic Oath and other foundational texts, guides the practice of medicine and is at risk of being eroded if not actively defended by Christians.
Mitchell explores key topics such as the patient-physician relationship, the goals of medicine, end-of-life care, and the broader societal implications of medical ethics. By examining these issues through a historical, moral, and philosophical lens, Mitchell offers a thought-provoking exploration of the moral foundations of medicine and a call to action for those who care about its future.
The Essentials in Christian Ethics series, edited by C. Ben Mitchell and Jason Thacker, is designed to illuminate the richness and centrality of ethics to all of the Christian life. The series consists of short, introductory volumes written by renowned scholars in the fields of ethics, theology, and philosophy. Each volume explores a crucial element of Christian ethical reflection, approaching the subject from within the broader Protestant moral tradition.
Introduction
Chapter 1 – The Hippocratic Oath and the Origins of Medical Ethics
Chapter 2 – The Patient as Person and the Goals of Medicine
Chapter 3 – The Physician’s Covenant
Chapter 4 – Ethics at the Edges of Life
Chapter 5 – Beyond Therapy
Conclusion: The Way of Medicine
Subject Index
Scripture Index
In Bioethics and Medicine: A Short Companion, C. Ben Mitchell challenges the prevailing view of bioethics as solely a matter of expert problem-solving. Instead, he argues that the ethics of medicine is deeply rooted in an ancient profession with a rich moral heritage. This heritage, embodied in the Hippocratic Oath and other foundational texts, guides the practice of medicine and is at risk of being eroded if not actively defended by Christians.
Mitchell explores key topics such as the patient-physician relationship, the goals of medicine, end-of-life care, and the broader societal implications of medical ethics. By examining these issues through a historical, moral, and philosophical lens, Mitchell offers a thought-provoking exploration of the moral foundations of medicine and a call to action for those who care about its future.
The Essentials in Christian Ethics series, edited by C. Ben Mitchell and Jason Thacker, is designed to illuminate the richness and centrality of ethics to all of the Christian life. The series consists of short, introductory volumes written by renowned scholars in the fields of ethics, theology, and philosophy. Each volume explores a crucial element of Christian ethical reflection, approaching the subject from within the broader Protestant moral tradition.
Introduction
Chapter 1 – The Hippocratic Oath and the Origins of Medical Ethics
Chapter 2 – The Patient as Person and the Goals of Medicine
Chapter 3 – The Physician’s Covenant
Chapter 4 – Ethics at the Edges of Life
Chapter 5 – Beyond Therapy
Conclusion: The Way of Medicine
Subject Index
Scripture Index