Euthanasia, Ethics and the Law: From Conflict to Compromise

This book argues that the English law governing the end(ing) of life violates norms, such as the need for consistency and clarity, whose observance are vital for a properly functioning legal system. It will demonstrate that such difficulties stem from the law's attempts to cleave to competing ethical injunctions concerning the value of human life and the individual's proclaimed right to determine the ending of his or her life. In contrast to most contributions to the debate which tend to adopt more absolutist positions, this book concludes that a compromise position is defensible but that current compromise can be better articulated, thus restoring a measure of legal rationality.