The Ethics of a Cottage Industry in an Age of Community and Research Medicine

Abstract

Concepts promoted under the egis of community or of research medicine expose the physician to new moral dilemmas. Thus, community medicine, which endorses the goals of social as well as physical and mental well-being, finds warrants for abortion in economic need, population control or simply individualistic voluntarism. But the medical profession must define its own ethic, independent of that of the general culture, and must identify its own moral obligations in deciding whether termination of pregnancy justifies killing of the fetus.