End of Life
Week Thirteen

Tuesday, March 31st   
 “The Medical Futility Debate: Patient Choice, Physician Obligaiton, and End-of-Life Care” by Robert Burt
Controversies in the Determination of Death by the President’s Council on Bioethics (pgs. 1-6, 49-67)
“Active and Passive Euthanasia” by James Rachels

Thursday, April 2nd   
No Class: Easter Break

Week Fourteen

Tuesday, April 7th
Bouvia v. Superior Court
“Confronting Death Who Chooses, Who Controls?” by Dax Cowart & Robert Burt

Thursday, April 9th   
Superintendent of Belchertown v. Saikewicz
“Testing the Limits of Precedent Autonomy: Five Scenarios” by Norman Cantor
“Quality of Life and Non-Treatment Decisions for Incompetent Patients: A Critique of the Orthodox Approach” by Rebecca Dresser & John Roberts

Week Fifteen

  • Debate contribution due by Monday, April 13th, @ 11.59 pm. Submit to Blackboard.

Tuesday, April 14th
In-class debate
Debate materials:  
“Opinion 2.211: Physician-Assisted Suicide” by the AMA
“Physician Assisted Death” by Timothy E. Quill and Jane Greenlaw
 “Sunday Dialogue: Choosing How We Die”
“Why Do So Many Disability Groups Oppose Physician Assisted Suicide?” by James D. McGaughey

Thursday, April 16th   
“Extreme Prematurity and Parental Rights After Baby Doe” by John Robertson 
“Resuscitation of the Preterm Infant Against Parental Wishes” by John Paris, Michael Schreiber, and Alun Elias-Jones