ABSTRACT
The growth of bioethics as a practical, meaningful player in the arena of health care
has paralleled that of clinical neurology not only in time but also in interaction
between the two disciplines. Almost every advance in neurology has spawned an ethical
dilemma, the unraveling of which has brought new insights to both fields of endeavor.
The myriad ways in which this parallel growth has touched one clinical neurologist,
the persons with whom he has been privileged to work, and those for whom they have
cared is offered in reflection on the meaning of ethics, the essence of concepts such
as ``brain death,'' the pain of truth telling, the complexity of informed consent,
the societal dimension of the ``vegetative state,'' and finally, even the business
of medicine. Should readers not find any pearls of wisdom in this offering, the author
can at least hope it will prevent them from falling into the same pits.
KEYWORD
Bioethics - brain death - informed consent - health care reform
