title: Defending the sanctity of life principle: a reply to John Keown.
abstract: This article is a response to Professor John Keown's criticism of my article "Finding a Way Through the Ethical and Legal Maze: Withdrawal of Medical Treatment and Euthanasia" (2005) 13(3) Medical Law Review 357. The article takes up and responds to a number of criticisms raised by Keown in an attempt to further the debate concerning the moral and legal status of withdrawing life-sustaining measures, its distinction from euthanasia, and the implications of the lawfulness of withdrawal for the principle of the sanctity of life.
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology. a.mcgee@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGee
mesh_terms: D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D018447:Medical Futility; D011788:Quality of Life; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*