Book excerpt: This book provides a systematic approach to bioethical decision making that can help clarify issues in situations where "right" and "wrong" may not be clearly defined. This approach is based on the interaction of health professional and patient, focusing on the well-being and right to self-direction of both. Numerous case studies give the professional practice in bioethical decision making. Nearly 50 of them are analyzed in detail at the back of the book. Nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals will find this a valuable resource. This book provides a systematic approach to bioethical decision making that can help clarify issues in situations where "right" and "wrong" may not be clearly defined. This approach is based on the interaction of health professional and patient, focusing on the well-being and right to self-direction of both. Numerous case studies give the professional practice in bioethical decision making. Nearly 50 of them are analyzed in detail at the back of the book. Nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals will find this a valuable resource. New to this fourth edition is an expansion of the preface and first chapter to provide a more complete mindset for what is to follow; two new chapters: one on four of the traditional ethical systems and how they pertain to interaction in the health care setting, and one that expands upon the iimportant of context; expansion of the final chapter on Symphonology--now formally recognized as a nursing theory by Marriner-Tomey and Alligood in their new edition of Nursing Theory: Utilization and Application--for use by master's and doctoral students; end of chapter questions and/or dilemmas for which no analysis will be given; replacement of older case studies with more current examples; and randomly throughout, addition of content, different focuses, and rearrangement of content.