Going against the grain: in praise of contrarian clinical ethics

Contrarian ways of thinking are generally good for the intellectual life and clinical ethics is no exception. This essay introduces the papers in the 2003 issue on clinical ethics of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, each of which goes against the grain in interesting and important ways. Considerations of identity predominate, in discussions of cloning, separation of conjoined twins, and the coming into existence of human beings. Whether viewing organ donation as admirable sacrifice is an altogether good thing is considered, as is the justification of fetal craniotomy. Finally, there is a review essay about From Chance to Choice, an important new book for the philosophy and ethics of molecular medicine.