ABSTRACT
This chapter draws out the important bioethical insights and ideas that have arisen. It discusses a ‘disciplined puzzling’ has attempted to incorporate the insights arising from an exploration of the holistic, spiritual discourse of Karuna Hospice Service (KHS). KHS’s spiritual discourse is built around the importance of choice, based on a holistic, caring and non-judgmental respect for others. KHS’s spiritual discourse provides one such example of a different ‘way’ of looking after the terminally ill. It is proposed that a postmodern examination of this discourse could significantly inform the present bioethical challenge to Principlism. the value of autonomy. In short, the notion of autonomous choice and the discipline of bioethics are intricately and centrally linked. Consequently, an exploration of KHS’s creation of choice situates this work at the very heart of bioethics where it is meant to be. The emphasis is on providing, not only information, but also education, and physical, emotional, social and spiritual support.
