PHLB09H3 Lecture Notes - Palliative Sedation, Principle Of Double Effect, Euthanasia
Document Summary
Actions are done for a good reason. Death is foreseen, but not the intention. Claims that good actions have bad effects. Does not commit one to any doctrine. Death is not the means compared to euthanasia. Morally permissible because the intention is to relieve suffering. Four conditions of the doctrine of double effect. 1. for an action to be permissible, the action taken must be. 2. the intention must be morally good. 3. for the consequences to count as merely foreseen. Cannot be part of the means to the intended consequences. 4. proportionality (page 154) there must be a grave reason for bringing about the side-effects. Points out that the doctrine of double effect does not say if it is or not permissible. It is thought of as justification for actions we know are morally impermissible. Seems that the risk is known when competent people agree. It"s not enough to have the consent of the competent person.
