Workshop of the Commission of the European Communities on Ethics of Human Genome analysis: survey of the European discussion.
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Disclosure↗
Biomedical subjects
E Zwierlein
Publications and source records attributed to E Zwierlein.
[Brain death and thanatology].
New technologies in medicine dramatically open a twilight-zone of ignorance between life and death. The argument shows that the present definition of brain death as the death of a human person is a convention with a specific philosophy behind. You will meet the problem with more accuracy when referring to an ethics of intransparence that allows an individual decision with respect to certain qualified conditions. Only from this starting-point the informed ex ante consent for an organ donation seems to become the only conclusive but at the same time justified decision.
Brain Death↗
[The moral problem of suicide].
There are 2 important philosophical traditions discussing the moral problem of suicide. One tradition rejects suicide as an immoral act that is against either an absolute or transcendent order, or against socio-political responsibilities, or against the duties one has to obey with respect to your own individual life. The other tradition argues that a specifically "qualified" suicide is a morally good privilege of human freedom and self-determination. Weighting the pros and cons the debate seems to end in a drawn game, perhaps with little advantages for the position against suicide. In any case, in the end it comes down to the very question whether a human being is still able to experience that it is good that he exists and that it is good to be engaged in this existence or not.
Ethics, Medical↗
[The quality-of-life doctrine and the sanctity of life].
The term "quality of life" might be used to qualify external circumstances with regard to the life of human beings (A). It also can be used to define the quality of a human life itself (B). Then it replaces the idea of "sanctity of life" by an eugenic idea that can be abused as a notion of discrimination. The B-position implies that life is only an instrument in order to serve a separable purpose (i.e. "the quality of being a person"). This specific quality articulates itself in so-called "indicators of humanhood/personhood". In consequence this "quality" is an eugenic expression including a dangerous power of definition and a selective anthropology that does not seem to be convincing theoretically and that can never serve as the basis of a reasonable and good social life of man.
Ethics, Medical↗
[Comments on the debate about euthanasia].
On the one hand euthanasia raises the question of humane dying (1). On the other side it is connected with the question of "wrongful existence" (2). The ambiguity of the term "human/humane life" might be explained in the following way: in respect of group 1 one might say that nobody is privileged to define materially or pragmatically the one who holds the dignity of man. In consequence no one may be killed because he lacks this type of criteria. Concerning group 2: a) No one may be expected to kill an innocent, defenceless human being; and there does not exist any right of demanding such a thing. b) Everyone has the right to get medicine for lessening pain. c) In case of b) death may not be intended on purpose, but may be accepted as a side-effect of medical treatment. d) Though you can formulate a rule of thumb there will occur tragical dilemmas with regard to cases of coma.
Ethics, Medical↗