Philosopher Richard Zaner pioneered the field of clinical-liaison ethics, a role virtually unheard of three decades ago. Although not initially encouraged by traditional philosophers or the medical community, Zaner and a few others became interested in the ethical and philosophical dilemmas confronting physicians in the technological revolution of the 1960s and 70s, as well as the rise of a new, morally pluralistic society.;Zaner brought his training in phenomenology to bear on these issues, as he served as a consultant and counselor in the clinical setting of a large medical center. It soon became evident that Zaner's gift for communication, empathy and respect for persons could be of great help to the physicians, nurses, technicians and researchers as well as to patients and their families.;Zaner's phenomenology of the clinical encounter provides insight into the particular and complex problems of physicians, patients, and their families, struggling with the phenomenon known as intersex, or disorders of sex development (DSD). Persons born with ambiguous sexuality have in the past been subjected to immediate and perhaps unnecessary surgeries to cosmetically normalize their reproductive organs. Parents of infants and children with DSDs were usually not informed about the nature of their child's condition or the possible side effects they might encounter as a result of the surgeries. Adults who had been surgically altered were often met with silence and secrecy when they tried to gain access to their medical files. Zaner's phenomenology of the clinical encounter offers a road map grounded in phenomenological philosophy to us, giving practical advice as well as important cautions for dealing with persons unwittingly cast into a situation that makes them feel frightened, vulnerable and alone.;Richard Zaner's phenomenological approach to clinical ethics is very helpful for the treatment of disorders of sexual development. Many clinicians and bioethicists are unaware of his work, since it has been lost in the systematic and legalistic approaches that have sought to codify medical ethics in the second half of the twentieth century. During the past two decades, many ethicists, emphasizing the need to meet each patient within his or her unique situation, have demanded a more patient-centered approach. Others have sought to address the needs of clinical personnel who often feel overwhelmed by their own reactions to ethical dilemmas. Narrative ethics has become incorporated into many medical programs across the country. Richard Zaner's approach encompasses all of these, and does it better than any single other approach. His methodology offers medical ethicists a particularly helpful approach to difficult clinical situations.
展开▼
