title: Utilitarian pessimism, human dignity, and the vegetative state: a practical analysis of the papal allocution.
authors.affiliation: Ascension Health, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Slosar
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tersigni
mesh_terms: D002410:Catholicism; D032981:Dehumanization; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000941:ethics*; D028663:Ethical Theory; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics*; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000628:therapy*; D026712:Value of Life
keywords: Death and Euthanasia; Religious Approach; Vatican