12. Is Killing the Innocent Absolutely Immoral?

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS vii
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. Introduction to the Second Edition 1
5. Introduction 24
6. PART I: EUTHANASIA AND THE TERMINATION OF LIFE-PROLONGING TREATMENT
7. 1. In the Matter of Karen Quinlan 51
8. 2. Majority Opinion in Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health (selections) 79
9. 3. Prolonging Life: Some Legal considerations 88
10. 4. An Irrelevant Consideration: Killing Versus Letting D~ 103
11. 5. Active and Passive Euthanasia 112
12. 6. The Intentional Termination of Life 120
13. 7. Active and Passive Euthanasia: An Impertinent Distinction? 131
14. 8. More Impertinent Distinctions and a Defense of Active Euthanasia 139
15. 9. Coming to Terms: a Response to Rachels 155
16. PART II: PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS
17. 10. Whatever the Consequences 167
18. 11. On Killing and Letting Die 192
19. 12. Is Killing the Innocent Absolutely Immoral? 197
20. 13. The Moral Equivalence of Action and Omission 210
21. 14. Negation and Abstention: Two Theories of Allowing 230
22. 15. The Survival Lottery 257
23. 16. The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect 266
24. 17. Killing and Letting Die 280
25. 18. Saving Life and Taking Life 290
26. 19. The Priority of Avoiding Harm 298
27. 20. Actions, Intentions, and Consequences: The Doctrine of Doing and Allowing 355
28. 21. Killing, Letting Die, and Withdrawing Aid 383
29. Suggested Readings 421
30. Notes on Contributors 429