According to the doctrine of double effect, a doctor's giving a dying, pain-racked patient a large dose of morphine with the intention of easing her pain (while knowing the act has the side effect of expediting her death) is permissible.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The doctrine of double effect states that an action having two effects—a good intended effect and a harmful side effect—is permissible if the action itself is good or morally neutral, the good effect is not achieved through the means of the bad effect, the intention is to achieve the good effect, and there is a proportionately grave reason for permitting the harmful effect. In this case, easing a patient's pain is considered a good intended effect, and the action (administering morphine) is morally permissible even if it unintentionally hastens death.

According to the Doctrine of Double Effect, a Doctor's Giving