Abstract
In this Critical Notice of Emily Jackson and John Keown’s Debating Euthanasia, the respective lines of argument put forward by each contributor are set out and the key debating points identified. Particular consideration is given to the points each contributor makes concerning the sanctity of human life and whether slippery slopes leading from voluntary medically assisted dying to non-voluntary euthanasia would be established if voluntary medically assisted dying were to be legalised. Finally, consideration is given to the positions adopted by the contributors in relation to the legalisation of voluntary medically assisted dying.
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Notes
I thank Norvin Richards for his helpful comments on a draft of this Critical Notice.
References
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Young, R. ‘Debating the Morality and Legality of Medically Assisted Dying’. Critical Notice of Emily Jackson and John Keown, Debating Euthanasia. Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2012. Criminal Law, Philosophy 7, 151–160 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11572-012-9171-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11572-012-9171-z
Keywords
- Voluntary euthanasia
- Physician-assisted suicide
- Non-voluntary euthanasia
- Involuntary euthanasia
- The sanctity of human life
- Slippery slope arguments
- Palliative care
- Acts-omissions distinction
- The ‘principle of double effect’
- Medical futility
- Terminal sedation
- Withholding and withdrawal of life-prolonging medical treatment