Euthanasia, ethics, and public policy [electronic resource] : an argument against legalisation / John Keown.

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 292-302) and index.

Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; CONTENTS; PREFACE; FOREWORD; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; TABLE OF CASES; ABBREVIATIONS; Introduction; PART I Definitions; 1 'Voluntary euthanasia'; 'Voluntary'; 'Euthanasia'; 'Euthanasia' as the active, intentional termination of life; 'Euthanasia' as the intentional termination of life by act or by omission; 'Euthanasia' as intentional or foreseen life-shortening; Conclusions; 2 Intended v. foreseen life-shortening; Distinguishing intention from foresight; Moral difference; The principle of 'double effect'; Double effect in traditional medical ethics Double effect in criminal lawAnnie Lindsell; Dr David Moor; Woollin; Intended ends and intended means; 'Catch-22'; Conclusion; 3 'Physician-assisted suicide'; Conclusions; PART II The ethical debate: human life, autonomy, legal hypocrisy, and the slippery slope; 4 The value of human life; 'Vitalism' v. 'sanctity/inviolability of life' v. 'Quality of life'; Vitalism; Sanctity/inviolability of life; The prohibition of intentional killing; Intention and foresight; Acts and omissions; The worthwhileness of treatment: its benefits and burdens; Quality of life Distinguishing 'Quality of life' from 'quality of life'Illustrating the distinctions; Mary's case; Dr V(italism); Dr Q(uality of life); Dr I(nviolability of life); Angela; Dr V; Dr Q; Dr I; Conclusion; 5 The value of autonomy; The 'right to choose'; Choosing what is right; The purpose and value of autonomy; The right to refuse futile or excessively burdensome treatments; How autonomous?; Conclusion; 6 Legal hypocrisy?; The current law; VAE as murder; Autonomy and the law; Five criticisms of the current law; Ineffective?; Palliative care and euthanasia; A right to commit suicide?A right to commit suicide by refusing treatment?Active and passive euthanasia; Conclusion; 7 The slippery slope arguments; VAE in principle and in practice; The nature of the slippery slope argument; Empirical and logical slopes; The empirical argument; The logical argument; Voluntariness; 'Unbearable suffering'; Conclusion; PART III The Dutch experience: controlling VAE? condoning NVAE?; 8 The guidelines; The Dutch law; 'Strict safeguards'?; The guidelines; 'Precisely defined' and 'strict'?; The government bill; Conclusion; 9 The first Survey: the incidence of 'euthanasia' The Remmelink Report and the Van der Maas SurveyThe findings of the Survey; Methodology; The retrospective study; The death certificate study; The prospective study; How much 'euthanasia'?; VAE; Other cases of 'euthanasia'; 2,700 or 9,050?; 'Dances with data'?; Conclusion; 10 Breach of the guidelines; An explicit request; An 'entirely free and voluntary' request which was 'well considered, durable and persistent'?; 'Life-terminating acts without the patient's explicit request'; Other cases lacking an explicit request; Unbearable suffering and last resort; Unbearable suffering?; Last resort? Consultation and reporting

Whether the law should permit voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is a notoriously difficult question. How cogent is the "slippery slope" objection? In other words, is it reasonable to object on the grounds that patients would be killed who did not make a free and informed request, or for whom palliative care would have offered an alternative. This book provides the general reader with a clear introduction to this central question, not least by reviewing the Dutch euthanasia experience. It will interest both sides of the debate.e.

English