The Right to Die in Dignity

An Argument in Ethics, Medicine and Law

Raphael Cohen-Almagor

Table of Content

Introduction

Chapter I. Language and Reality at the End of Life

Chapter II. Post-Coma Unawareness Patients

Chapter III. The Sanctity of Life and the Quality of Life Arguments in Medical Ethics: A Critical View

Chapter IV. Passive and Active Euthanasia

Chapter V. What Interests Do We Have?

Chapter VI. The Role of the Patients’ Beloved People

Chapter VII. An Outsider View on the Dutch Euthanasia Policy and Practice

Chapter VIII. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act

Conclusions: A Circumscribed Plea for Voluntary Physician-assisted Suicide

Appendix. Ethical and Financial Considerations in Allocating Healthcare Resources

Index