Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die: Bioethics and the Transformation of Health Care in America

Amy Gutmann and Jonathan D. Moreno's book "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die" explores the moral choices surrounding medical progress, highlighting the American paradox of wanting healthcare without paying the price. They argue that the stakes have never been higher for prolonging and improving life, and address challenges such as universal coverage, protecting individuals in medical studies, and allocating organs for transplants.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2019
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

A thought-provoking exploration of the ethical dilemmas inherent in the pursuit of medical progress, "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die" serves as a crucial guide for all Americans to engage in more open and honest discussions about healthcare. The book delves into an unprecedented transformation of the healthcare system, tracing its roots back to the 1950s, a time when doctors would make house calls but often withhold vital information from their patients. Authors Amy Gutmann and Jonathan D. Moreno examine the underlying problem with Americans seeking the full benefits of medical science without engaging in meaningful debates about its merits, limitations, and potential consequences.

The result of this trend is a concerning reality: Americans today pay exorbitant amounts for healthcare, yet their life expectancies and infant mortality rates remain among the lowest among affluent nations. Gutmann and Moreno, recognized as "incisive, influential, and pragmatic thinkers" (Arthur Caplan), argue that the stakes have never been higher in our quest to prolong and enhance life. They explore various aspects of the bioethical landscape, including healthcare reform, death with dignity, child vaccinations, and gene editing. Through compelling examples, the authors illustrate how bioethics has gained prominence, shaping and responding to a revolutionary shift in doctor-patient relations, as well as the emergence of organ transplants and new reproductive technologies that have the potential to benefit millions but also present complex legal and ethical challenges.

The book offers a comprehensive examination of the most pressing issues in American healthcare. It raises questions such as why healthcare costs are so high while universal coverage remains elusive. It also explores the need for adequate protection of individuals participating in medical studies, as well as fair allocation of organs in life-and-death situations. By providing thought-provoking insights and engaging examples, "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die" encourages readers to engage in meaningful conversations about healthcare and its ethical implications. It serves as a call to action for individuals, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to work together to create a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of all citizens while respecting the boundaries of medical science.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 167 x 242 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780871404466