Another possibility. Death as option or destiny -- Opinion polls on euthanasia -- Active or passive euthanasia -- Acting and omitting to act -- Man's power over life and death -- Bathtub example -- Medical technology -- Life is rounded with a sleep -- Two main arguments in the pro-/anti-legalization debate -- Avoiding unbearable suffering -- Respect for the right to self-determination -- Inherent problems of autonomy -- Autonomy versus paternalism -- Rational versus irrational thinking -- Doctor-patient relationship -- Slippery slope -- Solemn arguments -- Dignity -- Language -- More recent euphemisms -- Is euthanasia an impossible notion? -- Another possibility.
Summary:
"Why do so many doctors have profound misgivings about the push to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide? Ole Hartling uses his background as a physician, university professor and former president of the Danish Council of Ethics to introduce new elements into what can often be understood as an all too simple debate. Alive to the case that assisted dying can be driven by an unattainable yearning for control, Hartling concentrates on two fundamental questions: whether the answer to suffering is to remove the sufferer, and whether self-determination in dying and death is an illusion. He draws on his own experience as a medical doctor to personalize the ethical arguments, share patients' narratives and make references to medical literature. Here is a sceptical stance towards euthanasia, one that is respectful to those who hold different opinions and well-informed about the details and nuances of different euthanasia practices. Written from a Scandinavian perspective, where respect for autonomy and high quality palliative care go hand in hand, Hartling's is a nuanced, valuable contribution to the arguments that surround a question doctors have faced since the birth of medicine. He shows us how the intentions of doing something good can sometimes lead to even greater dilemmas, opening us up to those situations where an inclination to end suffering by ending life is deeply conflicting both for the clinician and for any fellow human being"-- Provided by publisher
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.