In this issue of Anesthesiology Clinics, guest editors Drs. Neal H. Cohen and Gail van Norman bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Ethical Approaches to the Practice of Anesthesiology - Part 1: Overview of Ethics in Clinical Care: History and Evolution. In this first of a two-part series, top experts discuss topics such as the role of advance directives and living wills on anesthesia practice; preoperative care of the patient with DNR orders; end-of-life care: withdrawing/withholding support; brain death: medical, ethical, cultural, legal aspects; ethics consult in anesthesia practice; and more.