The Importance of Being Important: Euthanasia and Critical Interests in Dworkin’s “Life’s Dominion”

This article addresses euthanasia & the right of an individual to make such a request if it is made before the onset of a terminal illness. The author compares & contrasts his own ideas to those presented in Ronald Dworkin’s “Life Dominion”. This article uses DworkinÕs example of a woman with AlzheimerÕs disease to illustrate the criteria of autonomy, best wishes, & sanctity of life. The author specifically discusses the idea of critical interests & the arguments of beneficence/interests, sanctity, & autonomy. (12 refs.) (AK)