Citation

Martin HB, Sas DF. Ethics Med. 2015; 31(2): 109-123.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Autonomy is the preeminent right in contemporary medical ethics. However, a closer examination of autonomy reveals that it is a flawed principle upon which to base medical decisions, particularly those at the end of life where mutually autonomous patients, physicians, and family members may come into conflict. On the one hand, autonomy may fuel a patient's desperate desire to extend his or her life by every technological means available. This exaggerates life's sanctity at the cost of its dignity. On the other hand, autonomy may prompt another patient to renounce the sanctity of life and choose "death with dignity" via physician-Assisted suicide. Should the same principle be able to explain such opposite conclusions? Must medical ethics be so easily swayed by cultural preferences? We propose an alternative principle-based solidly and exclusively on Scripture-to aid in making ethical decisions, especially at the end of life: selflessness. Being Christ-like-sacrificing oneself for the benefit of others, in submission to God the Sovereign Father-is always the ethical choice, founded upon the knowledge that "the opposite of death is not physical life, but eternal life.".

Language: en

Keywords

human; assisted suicide; medical ethics; death; human experiment; doctor patient relation; father; family study; human dignity