Euthanasia, Ethics and Public Policy

A ‘Charter Of Liberties’: Is Refusing The ‘Right To Die’ A Failure To Maintain The Spirit Of Magna Carta?

“…Adherents to the 'sanctity of life' doctrine who oppose all AD, such as Keown (2002), generally attempt to mitigate the harshness of their position by endorsing the doctrine of 'double effect'. This doctrine, which emerged from catholic theology, was made part of English law in Adams ([1957] Crim LR 773) and endorsed in Airedale NHS Trust v Bland ([1993] 2 WLR 316).…”

“…Clearly the risks are particularly high in systems like that of the UK where the doctrine of 'double effect' allows doctors to -in effect -engage in mercy killing in certain circumstances. As Ost (2005, p 359) points out, we can only be sanguine about this (and adherents to position (a) like Keown (2002) actually advocate doctors ending life on this basis) if we can rely on doctors telling the truth about their primary aim. But this reliance is surely misplaced, as how many would tell the truth if their primary aim was to hasten death?…”

Autonomy, value, and the first person

“…Keown 2002). There are at least two ways in which autonomy can be thought of as valuable in this way (the two are not mutually exclusive (c.f.…”

Mr Marty’s muddle: a superficial and selective case for euthanasia in Europe

“…12 16 17 (The focus of this paper is on the Dutch rather than the Belgian experience, partly because Dutch law has approved euthanasia for much longer-and there is accordingly more evidence about Dutch practice-and partly because the Belgian law largely emulates the Dutch law.) Also notably absent from the Report is any reference to the serious concerns that have been expressed, not least about the non-voluntary euthanasia of disabled newborns, by the UN Human Rights Committee.…”

“…In England, for example, the decriminalisation of suicide by the Suicide Act 1961 reflected, as the Government of the time made abundantly clear, 19 not a condonation of suicide but a realisation that criminal punishment was an inappropriate way of dealing with suicidal persons. As Lord Bingham confirmed in the Pretty case, 20 in which the House of Lords rejected an alleged right to assisted suicide, the Suicide Act 1961 conferred no right on anyone to commit suicide.…”