title: The quality/quantity-of-life distinction and its moral importance for nurses.
abstract: In this paper we reject the "sanctity-of-life" view, which holds that all human lives, irrespective of their quality or kind, are equally valuable and inviolable. We argue that health-care professionals intent on acting in the patients' best interests cannot avoid quality-of-life judgments--for there is a close link between the quality, and kind of life, a patient has and her best interests. This paper reflects on some of these issues.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuhse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012297:Right to Die; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D026712:Value of Life