Suppose a 90-year-old man is dying of cancer and is in excruciating pain that no medicine can relieve.He asks to be given a lethal injection.According to the doctrine of double effect,is giving the injection morally permissible?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The doctrine of double effect states that an action that has both good and bad effects may be morally permissible if (1) the action itself is good or neutral, (2) the bad effect is not the means to the good effect, (3) the bad effect is not intended but merely foreseen, and (4) the good effect outweighs the bad effect. However, in this scenario, the intended effect of the action (giving a lethal injection) is to cause the death of the patient, which is not morally permissible. The fact that the patient is in excruciating pain does not justify intentionally causing his death. Therefore, giving a lethal injection in this case is not morally permissible.

Suppose a 90-Year-Old Man Is Dying of Cancer and Is