Letting and making death happen, withholding and withdrawing life-support: morally irrelevant distinctions.
The author argues that there is no morally relevant distinction between letting and making death happen, and between withholding and withdrawing life-support. There is a discussion of possible adverse consequences in believing that there are moral distinctions. And then he shows that acknowledging the absence of such a distinction does not necessarily imply any endorsement of active euthanasia.
Gratton
C
C
Clinical Ethics Committee, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario.
D026689:Ethical Analysis; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D033182:Intention; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000592:standards*; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009014:Morals; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028761:Withholding Treatment