Relieving pain and foreseeing death: a paradox about accountability and blame.
The authors look closely at the often cited Rule of Double Effect and argue that, in some cases, a physician can legitimately claim to have acted within the Rule's parameters. In other cases, however, physicians can abuse the notion of unintended consequences. The test case they offer concerns palliative care that causes foreseeable death.
Nuccetelli
S
S
Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, USA.
Seay
G
G
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning; D001293:Attitude to Death; D034723:Double Effect Principle; D004989:Ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009014:Morals; D010166:Palliative Care
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid