A group of expert contributors have provided perspectives on areas of common concern to the anaesthetist, intensivist, and nursing staff, giving both the clinical and theoretical perspective. By understanding the underlying principles, the reader will be able to create their own framework from which to reach a decision. It is anticipated that the arguments given may challenge the reader's personal ethical stance. Those who are new to ethics will find the examples given help them to see how these underlying principles are put into everyday practice. Areas covered include consent, patient confidentiality, fitness to practice, whistleblowing on colleagues, clinical research, maternal-foetal conflicts, children, intensive care, palliative care, withdrawing and withholding therapy, euthanasia, infectious disease control.