ABSTRACT
Many arguments in favour of euthanasia rely on examples of life-prolonging therapy applied to unwilling patients in circumstances which suggest that a dignified death is being denied to those whose suffering is needlessly extended. Robert F. Weir’s arguments and case studies should be placed in the context of recent legislation in the USA on Living Wills, Advanced Directives and legal directives on treatment abatement cases, including decisions to abate technological feeding and hydration. There are two closely related ethical problems with advance directives. First, there are problems of abuse, in the sense that many proponents of euthanasia support them as part of a strategy to relax existing prohibitions on euthanasia. Some pressure groups in favour of euthanasia see no distinction between therapy abatement and euthanasia and would welcome an extension of therapy abatement to include ‘merciful release’. Second, there are problems concerning the potential abuse of autonomous decisions to abate life-prolonging therapy.
