Modern medicine has changed the everyday handling of health and illness noticeably. Medical progress even changes the health and illness affiliated terms. A deep running conflict of values has come into existance, challenging for ethics and the legal order through predictive medicine, stem cell research, reproductive medicine, transplantation medicine or euthanasia and the additional rationing in the health sector.
Kreß addresses newly formed questions such as the option of testing drugs on the bases of human embryonic stem cells or the palliative sedation of the dying. In his ethical discussion the author takes cultural and religious plurality in account and emphasises on a patient?s personal right of self determination and justness of participation.
Special emphasis is placed on a human right to health protection; which hasn't found enough attention in medical ethics and legal rules. Children's health protection is also kept in mind through the work.