James Rachels: "Active and Passive Euthanasia"
I. AMA Doctrine Based on Distinction between Active
and Passive Euthanasia
"The intentional termination of
the life of one human being by another--mercy killing--is contrary to
that for which the medical profession stands and is contrary to the
policy of the American Medical Association." [Policy on what Rachels calls active euthanasia.]
"The cessation of the employment of extraordinary means to prolong the
life of the body when there is irrefutable evidence that biological
death is imminent is the decision of the patient and/or his immediate
family. The advice and judgment of the physician should be freely
available to the patient and/or his immediate family." AMA Doctrine (p. 155) [Policy on what Rachels calls passive euthanasia.]
II. Objection to Doctrine: It’s Cruel
III. Objection to Doctrine: It Leads to Life and
Death
Decisions Being Made on Irrelevant Grounds
IV. Objection to Doctrine: It’s Based on False
Assumption
that Killing Is Morally Worse than Letting Die
V. Possible Response to Rachels' Claim that Active Is No Worse than
Passive Euthanasia and Rachels' Reply to this Response
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