The major portion of his academic career was spent as a tenured professor at Princeton University until the end of his life in 1988.
Ramsay has been credited with laying the intellectual foundations of bioethics and informed consent through his book The Patient as Person, which has continued to be a standard text in medical ethics across multiple editions.
[8] Ramsey aligned himself with deontologial normative theories, rather than the Roman Catholic teachings of relative autonomy of natural law and morality.
It has been one of the most prominent theology books used in the education system and provides Ramsey's insights into the basic morals and values of Christianity.
This book gained renown for its ability to tackle controversial topics while providing scrutinizing theories that question the relationship and confidentiality of the patient and physician.
Selections deal with such issues as race relations, sexuality and marriage, war, the meaning of Christian love, abortion, and medical care for the sick and dying.