Consent and end of life decisions

Journal of Medical Ethics

Volumn 29, Issue 1, 2003, Pages 10-15

  Harris, John ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ABORTION; ARTICLE; CHILD DEATH; COMPETENCE; DECISION MAKING; EUTHANASIA; HEALTH CARE; HUMAN; INDIVIDUALITY; INFORMED CONSENT; JURISPRUDENCE; MEDICAL ETHICS; MORALITY; PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE; PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE; SOCIAL WELFARE;

ANALYTICAL APPROACH; DEATH AND EUTHANASIA; PROFESSIONAL PATIENT RELATIONSHIP;

CHILD; DECISION MAKING; EUTHANASIA; HUMANS; INFORMED CONSENT; LIFE SUPPORT CARE; MORALS; PATIENT RIGHTS; PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE; TERMINAL CARE; TREATMENT REFUSAL; TWINS, CONJOINED; VALUE OF LIFE;

EID: 0037324009     PISSN: 03066800     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1136/jme.29.1.10     Document Type: Article

References (22)

1. This essay draws on thoughts first published in a number of places including my life and death. In: Craig E, ed. Routledge encyclopaedia of philosophy. London: Routledge, 1998 and in my Euthanasia and the value of life, and other essays by myself and John Finnis on euthanasia, in: Keown J, ed. Euthanasia examined: ethical, clinical, and legal perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995: 6-71.
2. Lord Mustill in Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] 1 All England Rep 821 HL. I argued for the symmetry of acts and omissions in my The Marxist conception of violence. Philosophy and Public Affairs 1974;3:192-221, and in Violence and responsibility. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1980.
3. See my euthanasia and the value of life, and other essays by myself and John Finnis on euthanasia in Keown J, ed. Euthanasia examined: ethical, clinical, and legal perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995: 6-71.
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_625000/625680.stm.
5. I argued against the relevance of the moral distinction between acts and omissions in my Violence and responsibility. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1980. This irrelevance has recently and belatedly been recognised by the highest court in the United Kingdom. See Lord Mustill's judgment in Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] 1 All England Rep 821 HL.
6. Quoted in Steiner H. A theory of rights. Oxford: Blackwell, 1994: 258.
7. Re W [1992] 4 All ER 627.
8. See my Violence and responsibility, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul 1980; The value of life. London: Routledge, 1985 and The concept of the person and the value of life. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 1999;9:293-308.
9. See The value of life, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1985 and 1992: ch 1.
10. Dworkin R. Life's dominion. London: Harper Collins, 1993. See, for example, ch 3.
11. See The value of life. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1985 and 1992.
12. My account of this case follows that given in my euthanasia and the value of life: see reference 3.
13. Re C [1989] 2 All ER 782 and Re J [1990] 3 All ER 930.
14. Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] 1 All England Rep 821 HL.
15. Frenchay Healthcare NHS Trust v S, Court of Appeal, judgment, January 14 1994.
16. Cruzan v Director, Missouri Department of Health, 497, US 261, 1990.
17. Re A (children) (conjoined twins: surgical separation) 2000. 4 All ER 961. See my Conjoined twin non-persons. Medical Law Review 2001;9:221-36.
18. Siamese twin parents named. BBC News Online: http:// news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1058000/1058223.stm posted 6 December 2000.
19. See also Re A (children) (conjoined twins: surgical separation) 2000. 4 ALL ER 972, per WARD LJ.
20. Bunyan N. "Bright and alert" Jodie makes rapid progress. Daily Telegraph Online: http://www.lineone.net/telegraph/2000/12/16/ news/bright_45.html posted 16 December 2000.
21. See my Conjoined twin non-persons. Medical Law Review 2001;9:221-36.
22. Adapted from Herbert Hart's famous (true?) example in his intention and punishment in his Punishment and responsibility, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1968.