Rule Utilitarianism and the Right to Die

AbstractIn the 20 years that have passed since the Karen Quinlan case exposed a simmering clinical issue to the light of day — more precisely, to the press and to judicial process — a consensus has developed in American law about how end-of-life decisionmaking should occur. To be sure, there are dissenting voices from this consensus, but they are often (though not always) about minor issues. By illustrating how this consensus has evolved, this paper explores how law is made in the American legal system and the roles that different legal and extra-legal institutions play in lawmaking.

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The Right to Die ... The Choice Is Yours

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/28.5.711 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 711-712

Author(s):

A. Nevins ◽

H. R. Moody

Keyword(s):

Right To Die ◽

The Right

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The influence of religious/spiritual beliefs on Malaysian hospital healthcare workers’ attitudes towards suicide and suicidal patients: a qualitative study

Journal of Research in Nursing ◽

10.1177/17449871211008520 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174498712110085

Author(s):

Ching Sin Siau ◽

Lei-Hum Wee ◽

Suzaily Wahab ◽

Uma Visvalingam ◽

Seen Heng Yeoh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Religious Beliefs ◽

Right To Die ◽

Spiritual Beliefs ◽

Attitudes Towards Suicide ◽

Formal Integration ◽

Professional Care ◽

The Right ◽

Medical Disciplines ◽

Suicidal Patients

Background There has been mixed findings on whether a healthcare workers’ religious beliefs contribute positively or negatively to their attitudes towards suicidal patients. Aims This study aims to explore qualitatively the influence of religious/spiritual beliefs on healthcare workers’ attitudes towards suicide and suicidal patients in the culturally heterogeneous Malaysian population. Methods Thirty-one healthcare workers from diverse religious backgrounds, professions and medical disciplines were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed the centrality of religion in determining healthcare workers’ acceptability of suicide, specific religious beliefs that influenced their views on the right-to-die issue, perceptions of the suicidal patient’s religiousness/spirituality, and the aspects and extent of religious relevance in professional philosophy and practice. Results Healthcare workers who could perceive the multifactorial nature of suicide causation had a more empathetic response. There were high levels of paternalism in the care of suicidal patients, involving unsolicited religious/spiritual advice practised as a form of suicide deterrent and social support. Conclusions The formal integration of religious/spiritual practices into the professional care of suicidal patients was indicated.

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