Compassionate Respect

Medical ethics has placed undue emphasis on the autonomy of patients while neglecting social contexts and responsibilities. The author proposes an ethic of caring arising from women's experience that embraces the concrete reality of patients as embodied persons. This ethic of caring is rooted in a Western spiritual tradition that believes in a God of mercy and so demands that we be merciful as well. The truly merciful heart (misericordia) is one that experiences compassion, but also knows its requirements.