- Title
- The moral philosophical challenges posed by fully implantable permanent pacemakers
- Creator
- Walker, Paul; Lovat, Terence; Leitch, James W.; Saul, Peter
- Relation
- Ethics & Medicine: An International Journal of Bioethics Vol. 30, Issue 3, p. 157-165
- Relation
- https://www.ethicsandmedicine.com/2014/10/ethics-medicine-volume-303-fall-2014/
- Publisher
- Bioethics Press
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2014
- Description
- This paper reviews three philosophical constructs traditionally used to guide moral decision-making in end-of-life situations. These are: the Principle of Double Effect, the Principle of Doing versus Allowing, and the Principle of Ordinary Care versus Extra-Ordinary Care. These principles have operated in a context dominated by patient autonomy as an overarching ethical imperative. The paper argues that the three philosophical constructs and the imperative given to patient autonomy have been significantly challenged by advances in life-sustaining biotechnology. Arguments are advanced that draw on the example of the provision of fully implantable permanent pacemakers to reveal the practical inapplicability of the three Principles, as well as the over-reliance on patient autonomy as regards discontinuation of treatment. On the basis of these arguments, it is concluded that advances in biotechnology are potentially outstripping many of the premises normally applied by moral philosophy to end-of-life considerations. A process which emphasises a clear and open dialogue prior to implantation seems to be a necessary pre-requisite for moral decision-making in this context.
- Subject
- business ethics; morality; decision making; assisted suicide
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1302097
- Identifier
- uon:20403
- Identifier
- ISSN:0266-688X
- Language
- eng
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