PEDIATRICS Vol. 84 No. 5 November 1989, pp. 894
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Student,
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Student,

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE PRINCIPLE QUESTIONED

Student

There are two major inconsistencies in formulations of the qualified sanctity-of-life doctrine in medicine. First, proponents of the principle are inconsistent because they violate their stand when they absolutely prohibit the intentional termination of life while holding that in some circumstances it is permissable to refrain from preventing death. A second inconsistency is that the proponents affirm the equality of all human lives while simultaneously appealing to considerations of quality of life to justify limited duties of life preservation.