Each chapter includes an ethical challenge presented as a clinical case scenario that readers may relate to in their daily practice of anesthesiology and surgery. The ethical issues surrounding each chapter’s content are examined in an easily understandable manner for the specific target audience to improve the understanding and management of ethical dilemmas in patient care. ​Informed consent issues for the adult and pediatric patient, perioperative considerations of do-not-resuscitate orders, ethical issues of drug shortages, transplantation ethics, surgical care of patients and futility, conscientious objection, informed consent and disclosure of surgeon experience, and research and publication ethics are included and based on the experience of the Editor and the roster of contributors.

Good clinical practice inevitably raises both ethical and legal issues and demands an understanding of both. Different environments produce different problems in practice, and similarly, different patients raise different considerations. All these situations demand the clinician to make decisions that balance both the clinical and ethical considerations.

Ethical issues facing anesthesiologists are more far-reaching than those involving virtually any other medical specialty. In this clinical ethics textbook, authors from across the USA, Canada and Europe draw on ethical principles and practical knowledge to provide a realistic understanding of ethical anesthetic practice. The result is a compilation of expert opinion and international perspectives from clinical leaders in anesthesiology. Building on real-life, case-based problems, each chapter is clinically focused and addresses both practical and theoretical issues. Topics include general operating room care, pediatric and obstetrical patient care, the intensive care unit, pain practice, research and publication, as well as discussions of lethal injection, disclosure of errors, expert witness testimony, triage in disaster and conflicts of interest with industry. An important reference tool for any anesthesiologist, whether clinical or research-oriented, this book is especially valuable for physicians involved in teaching residents and students about the ethical aspects of anesthesia practice.