Embryos and human genomes, palliative care and euthanasia - these issues, of great media interest, concern specialists as well as ethics committees and decision makers who are attempting to regulate some of these difficult questions by the appropriate legal, ethical and moral actions. Eighty-two cases concerning specific health problems and thirty-eight cases found in daily nursing care are elaborated in this text; in these 120 practical cases the authors evaluate the possible reactions of the health professional in the light of international legislation, ethics, and religious and lay moral principles. This work, which lends itself to reflection, teaching and action, will be of particular interest to all health care personnel, to members of ethics committees, to association personnel, lawyers, philosophers, theologians, sociologists and, of course, to patients.