Thomas Tomlinson (philosopher)

Thomas Tomlinson (born 1945) is a philosophy professor and medical ethicist currently teaching at Michigan State University where he holds a joint appointment in the Lyman Briggs College and the philosophy department. Tomlinson earned his M.A. and Ph.D in philosophy at Michigan State University. He teaches courses on medical ethics, nursing ethics, and veterinary ethics.

Tomlinson has published widely in medical ethics literature. He is especially interested in resuscitation decisions, organ donation and determinations of death, and ethical aspects of international research.

Tomlinson authored the book Nursing Ethics. In addition, he authored several articles in journals such as The Journal of Medical Ethics, The Journal of Clinical Ethics, The Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, The Hastings Center Report, Academic Medicine, and The Gerontologist 31.

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. “Caring for Risky Patients: Duty or Virtue?” Journal of Medical Ethics, May 2008.
• Tomlinson, Thomas P. "Ethical Issues" (Chapter 12). In Palliative Practices: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

Ed. Kuebler KK, Davis MP, Moore CD. St. Louis, Elsevier-Mosby: 2005

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. “Futile Care in Oncology: When to Stop Trying”, The Lancet Oncology 2,

December 2001, 1-2.

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. “Telethics and the Virtual Intensivist.” Journal of Clinical Ethics 12 (Spring)

2001:69-72.

• “On Being Genetically ‘Irresponsible’” Judith Andre, Leonard Fleck, Tom

Tomlinson. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, June 2000.

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. “Ethics Consultant: Problem Solver or Spiritual Counselor?” Human Studies.

January 1999.

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. “Improving Our Aim.” Judith Andre, Leonard Fleck, Tom Tomlinson. Journal of

Medicine and Philosophy 1999 24(2), 130-147.

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. “Perplexed about Narrative Ethics”,in Stories and Their Limits: Narrative

Approaches to Bioethics, ed. Hilde Nelson. Routledge, 1997.

• Tomlinson, Thomas P. "Futility and Hospital Policy," Tom Tomlinson and Diane Czlonka. Hastings

Center Report, May–June, 1995.