Is Death Ever Preferable to Life?: 14 (International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, 14) - Softcover

Olver, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9048161789 ISBN 13: 9789048161782

Publisher: Springer, 2010

Synopsis

This is an original contribution to the much debated area of the value that we should place on human life. With the euthanasia issue highlighted in the public arena this book argues for a non-absolutist highest value on life ethic and how that fits with society's current emphasis on individual autonomy. By the use of everyday examples the impact of placing a high value on life is explored. It will be useful for students of ethics, nursing and medicine and those engaged in the public debate on euthanasia.

About this title

About the Author

Ian Olver, MD, PhD, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, its Chapter of Palliative Medicine, and is a member of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. He completed a PhD from Monash University in bioethics, exploring life and death issues, and a Certificate of Ministry at the Adelaide College of Divinity. He trained in medical oncology at Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and the University of Maryland Cancer Center in Baltimore. In 2006 he was appointed CEO, Cancer Council Australia, a Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney, and he is an Honorary Associate, Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. After serving on several ethics committees in Victoria and South Australia and the American society of Clinical Oncology Ethics Committee, and chairing the Cancer Institute NSW Research Ethics Committee for multicenter cancer trials, he now sits on the Australian Health Ethics committee of the NHMRC and chairs the Medical Oncology Group of the Australia Ethics Committee. In 2008 he was awarded the Cancer Achievement Aware by the Medical Oncology Group of Australia.

From the Back Cover

This is an original contribution to the much debated area of the value that we should place on human life. With the euthanasia issue highlighted in the public arena this book argues for a non-absolutist highest value on life ethic and how that fits with society's current emphasis on individual autonomy. Not only are the arguments for and against placing a highest value on life explored but the way of arguing particularly the use of slippery slopes is discussed. By the use of everyday examples the impact of placing a high value on life is explored. A futuristic intensive care ward round illustrates the ethical and resource issues with which we would be challenged in adopting a highest value on life policy for medical decisions. This book will be useful for students of ethics, nursing and medicine as well as those engaged in the public debate on euthanasia.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9048161789
• ISBN 13: 9789048161782
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168