End games: euthanasia under interminable scrutiny.
It is increasingly asserted that the disagreements of abstract principle between adversaries in the euthanasia debate fail to account for the complex, particular and ambiguous experiences of people at the end of their lives. A greater research effort into experiences, meaning, connection, vulnerability, and motivation is advocated, during which the euthanasia 'question' should remain open. I argue that this is a normative strategy, which is felicitous to the status quo and further medicalises the end of life, but which masquerades as a value-neutral assertion about needing more knowledge.
Parker
Malcolm
M
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herson Qld 4006, Australia. m.parker@uq.edu.au
D003863:Depression; D036262:Empirical Research; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028663:Ethical Theory; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010166:Palliative Care; D011640:Public Policy; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology