Utilizing a form of medical ethnography to investigate a variety of pediatric contexts, Richard B. Miller tests the fit of different ethical approaches in various medical settings to arrive at a new paradigm for how best to care for children. Miller contends that the principle of beneficence must take priority over autonomy in the treatment of children. Yet doctors alone cannot decide what is best for the child. Determining and implementing such decisions. Miller argues, doctors must become part of a "therapeutic alliance" with families and the child undergoing medical care to arrive at the best course of treatment. Children, Ethics, and Modern Medicine combines strong philosophical argumentation with firsthand knowledge of the issues facing children and families in pediatric care. This book will be an invaluable resource for medical ethicists and practitioners in pediatric care, as well as parents struggling with ethical issues in the care and treatment of their children.