Altruism and physician assisted death.
We assume that a statute permitting physician assisted death has been passed. We note that the rationale for the passage of such a statute would be respect for individual autonomy, the avoidance of suffering and the possibility of death with dignity. We deal with two moral issues that will arise once such a law is passed. First, we argue that the rationale for passing an assistance in dying law in the first place provides a justification for assisting patients to die who are motivated by altruistic reasons as well as patients who are motivated by reasons of self-interest. Second, we argue that the reasons for passing a physician assisted death law in the first place justify extending the law to cover some nonterminal patients as well as terminal patients.
Gunderson
M
M
Macalester College, St. Paul, MN 55105.
Mayo
D J
DJ
D000533:Altruism; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; D006801:Humans; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010819:Physician's Role; D040841:Resource Allocation; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life; D035761:Wedge Argument; D028761:Withholding Treatment