We have written this book for physicians, nurses, and medical students. We presuppose that all of our readers have some knowledge of medicine and of the the clinical care of patients. All three of us have clinical experience as either practitioners or consultants. Each of us is trained in different disciplines: Jonsen in philosophy and moral theology; Siegler in medicine; Winslade in law, philosophy and psychoanalysis. We came away from wards and clinics, from books and lectures, with the intention of bringing our experience and training to bear on the ethical problems facing the practitioner of medicine. Practitioner must make decisions. Thus, we do not marely discuss or analyze the ethical problems; we offer counsel about decisions. Lest this be thought presumptuous, we do not consider our counsel the single and final answer. We offer it in the tradition our medical consultation: The consultant may bring to the practitioner's view of the case not only broader information but another perspective.