Chapter
Does the Medical Covenant Require the Practice of Active Euthanasia and Assistance in Suicide? (IN: Testing the Medical Covenant, by W F May)
May W F
May uses the concept of a “medical covenant” to examine the implications of active euthanasia on the practice of medicine. He argues that “absolutistic” policies representing either extreme (i.e., that of pro-life or that of pro-quality-of-life) should be avoided in favor of a practice of individual case evaluation. After exploring in detail the arguments made by both sides, he concludes that while it would be best that the practice of euthanasia be rare, it should not be outlawed altogether.