PHLB09H3 Chapter Notes -Voluntary Euthanasia, Involuntary Euthanasia, Pain Management
Document Summary
Patient + physician kill the patient: paradigm case of voluntary active euthanasia is a physician"s administering the lethal dose, often because the patient is unable to do so. Only difference between the two paradigms are the person who actually administers the lethal dose. In each case, the physician plays an active and necessary casual role. If self-determination is a fundamental value, then the great variability among people on this question makes it especially important that individuals control the many, circumstances, and timing of their dying and death. If they find out that the patient is incompetent, the vae is not possible: two kinds of arguments against it, considerations of the patient"s self-determination and well-being do support euthanasia, it is nevertheless always ethically wring or impermissible. Focuses on features of any individual case of euthanasia: euthanasia may not be ethically wrong, but maintains nonetheless that public and legal policy should never permit it.
