Handbook of medical ethics. Medical ethics--a social responsibility.

The above approaches certainly have their place but also have their limitations. The repeated invocation of archival material tends to create an impression that ethical edicts are merely of historical significance and are irrelevant today. Some of the historical texts on medical ethics are based on morality, at times even bordering on the spiritual or the religious. This could be a hindrance to wide acceptance. On the other hand, too much emphasis on the legal aspects creates a sense of enforcement with resultant alienation.