Moral dilemma: to kill or allow to die?
The thesis of this paper is that while allowing a person to die with care can be morally justified in particular cases, the option of mercy killing can never be morally defended. There is a significant moral difference between these two concepts. Furthermore, the wedge argument, the medical fallibility argument, and the medical care and trust argument provide cogent and convincing reasons for maintaining a legal distinction between mercy killing and letting a person die.
D034723:Double Effect Principle; D004989:Ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000592:standards*; D009014:Morals; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D035502:Trust; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life; D035761:Wedge Argument; D028761:Withholding Treatment