Ethical Issues in Rural Health Care initiates a much-needed conversation about concerns facing health care providers in the rural United States. Although 21 percent of the population lives in rural areas, only 11 percent of physicians practice there. What are the differences between rural and urban health care practices? What particular ethical issues arise in treating residents of small communities? Craig M. Klugman and Pamela M. Dalinis gather philosophers, lawyers, physicians, nurses, and researchers to discuss these and other questions, offering a multidisciplinary overview of rural health care in the United States.

"Of obvious value for those active in rural health care. It may be even more useful, however, for nonrural practitioners, ethicists, and members of ethics committees. Reading the essays in this volume is like acquiring a new set of glasses. It made me better able to perceive differences in how ethics can be considered based on culture, population, geographic challenges, and personal connections."--JAMA

"A welcome addition to this oft-neglected area of ethics. The collection is broad-ranging and well-designed."--Journal of Bioethical Inquiry

"The common thread among the essays is a bioethical perspective. Their common goal is to raise awareness among rural practitioners and other interested parties about the particular challenges that the rural environment presents."--Health Affairs

"This volume elucidates a wide range of ethical issues and the authors provide helpful strategies for practice and policy."--Ruth B. Purtilo, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions