Euthanasia, Ethics and Public Policy: An Argument Against LegalisationCambridge University Press, 25.04.2002 - 318 Seiten Whether the law should permit voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is one of the most vital questions facing all modern societies. Internationally, the main obstacle to legalisation has proved to be the objection that, even if they were morally acceptable in certain 'hard cases', voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide could not be effectively controlled; society would slide down a 'slippery slope' to the killing of patients who did not make a free and informed request, or for whom palliative care would have offered an alternative. How cogent is this objection? This book provides the general reader (who need have no expertise in philosophy, law or medicine) with a lucid introduction to this central question in the debate, not least by reviewing the Dutch euthanasia experience. It will interest all in any country whether currently for or against legalisation, who wish to ensure that their opinions are better informed. |
Inhalt
Voluntary euthanasia | 9 |
Intended v foreseen lifeshortening | 18 |
Physicianassisted suicide | 31 |
The ethical debate human life autonomy legal hypocrisy and the slippery slope | 37 |
The value of human life | 39 |
The value of autonomy | 52 |
Legal hypocrisy? | 58 |
The slippery slope arguments | 70 |
The Northern Territory ROTTI | 153 |
Oregon the Death with Dignity Act | 167 |
Expert opinion | 181 |
Expert committees | 183 |
Supreme Courts | 191 |
Medical associations | 208 |
Passive euthanasia withholdingwithdrawing treatment and tubefeeding with intent to kill | 215 |
The Tony Bland case | 217 |
The Dutch experience controlling VAE? condoning NVAE? | 81 |
The guidelines | 83 |
The first Survey the incidence of euthanasia | 91 |
Breach of the guidelines | 103 |
The slide towards NVAE | 115 |
The second Survey | 125 |
The Dutch in denial? | 136 |
Australia and the United States | 151 |
Beyond Bland the BMA guidance on withholdingwithdrawing medical treatment | 239 |
The Winterton Bill | 260 |
Conclusions | 273 |
Afterword | 282 |
Bibliography | 292 |
303 | |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
abortion active administered appears argued assisted suicide autonomy bill breach chapter clinical depression commit suicide competent concern condonation consultation criminal law debate decision decriminalisation definition of euthanasia doctor's purpose Dutch doctors Dutch experience dying effect End-of-Life Euthanasia and Assisted evidence explicit request guidance hasten death Hendin hospice House of Lords human Ibid incompetent patients intentional killing intentional termination intentionally inviolability John Keown judge judgment KNMG Law Lords legalisation legislation lethal injection life-shortening Lords Select Committee Medical Ethics medical practice medical treatment mental moral Moreover murder Netherlands NVAE Official Solicitor omission Oregon pain palliative care palliative drugs Persistent Vegetative physician Physician-Assisted Suicide principle prohibition prosecution Quality reason refuse treatment rejected Remmelink respect second doctor shorten slippery slope slippery slope argument Supreme Court terminally ill Tony Tony Bland tube-feeding unbearable suffering Voluntary Euthanasia withdrawing withholding withholding/withdrawing treatment worth living