Is Death Ever Preferable to Life?

2002
ISBN: 978-1-4020-1029-3
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, Band 14, 168 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 448 g

Reihe: International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine

This is an original contribution to the much debated area of the value that we should place on human life. With the euthanasia issue highlighted in the public arena this book argues for a non-absolutist highest value on life ethic and how that fits with society's current emphasis on individual autonomy. Not only are the arguments for and against placing a highest value on life explored but the way of arguing particularly the use of slippery slopes is discussed. By the use of everyday examples the impact of placing a high value on life is explored. A futuristic intensive care ward round illustrates the ethical and resource issues with which we would be challenged in adopting a highest value on life policy for medical decisions.
This book will be useful for students of ethics, nursing and medicine as well as those engaged in the public debate on euthanasia.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Olver, Ian

Fachgebiete

• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Medizinische Ethik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Angewandte Ethik & Soziale Verantwortung Medizinische Ethik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Ethik, Moralphilosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Tod, Sterbehilfe: Soziale und Ethische Themen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1: In the Beginning.- 2: The Definition of Death.- 3: Death Relative to Life.- 4: Autonomy and Life or Death Decisions.- 5: Slippery Slopes and Life and Death.- 6: Limited Resources Limiting Life?.- 7: Future Ethics.- Endnotes.