On July 18, 2006 Dr. Anna Pou, a surgeon and respected medical school professor, …

• Introduction
• The Function of the Principle of Double Effect
• Conclusion
• References

Biology Articles » Bioethics » Patient Deaths in New Orleans: Mercy Killing or Palliative Care? » References

References

- Patient Deaths in New Orleans: Mercy Killing or Palliative Care?

1. Adam Nossiter & Shaila Dewan, “Patient Deaths in New Orleans Bring Arrests,” New York Times, (July 19, 2006): 1-4. [www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/us/19 ... ]

2. Christopher Drew, “Arrest of Nurses and Doctor Puts Attorney General in Louisiana on Defensive,” New York Times, (August 1, 2006): 1-3. [www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/us/01 ... ]

3. Nossiter & Dewan, 2.

4. Drew, 2.

5. Nossiter & Dewan, 2.

6. Carrie Kahn, “New Orleans Hospital Staff Discussed Mercy Killings,” NPR (August 30, 2006):1-3. [www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... ]

7. Ibid.

8. Joseph Mangan, S.J., “An Historical Analysis Of The Principle Of Double Effect,” Theological Studies 10 (March 1949): 41.

9. For further analysis on the historical development of the principle of double effect, see Christopher Kaczor, “Double-Effect Reasoning From Jean Pierre Gury To Peter Knauer,” Theological Studies 59 (1998): 297-316; Thomas Cavanaugh, “Aquinas' Account Of Double Effect,” Thomist 61 (1997): 107-121; James Keenan, “The Function Of The Principle Of Double Effect,” Theological Studies 54 (1993): 294-315; and Joseph Boyle, “Double Effect And A Certain Kind Of Embryotomy,” Irish Theological Quarterly 44 (1977): 303-318.

10. Gerald Kelly, S.J., Medico-Moral Problems (St. Louis, MI.: The Catholic Hospital Association of the United States and Canada, 1958), 13-14.

11. For a more detailed description of the proportionalist's argument see Keenan, 301-302; Peter Knauer, “La détermination du bien et du mal moral par le principe de double effet,” Nouvelle revue théologique 87 (1965): 356-76; Haig Katchadourian, “Is The Principle Of Double Effect Morally Acceptable?” International Philosophical Quarterly 27 (1988): 21-30; L. Cornerotte, “Loi morale, valeurs humaines et situations de conflit,” Nouvelle revue Théologique 100 (1978): 502-532; Bernard Hoose, Proportionalism: The American Debate And Its European Roots (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1987); Bruno Schüller, “The Double Effect In Catholic Thought: A Reevaluation,” in Doing Evil To Achieve Good, eds. Richard McCormick and Paul Ramsey (Chicago, IL.: Loyola University Press, 1978), 165-191; and Richard McCormick, S.J., Notes On Moral Theology: 1965 through 1980 (Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1981), 751-756.

12. Pius XII, “Address to Delegates to the Ninth National Congress of the Italian Society of the Science of Anesthetics,” Acta Apostolicae Sedis 49 (February 24, 1957), 147.

13. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Declaration on Euthanasia,” (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1980): 3.

14. Denise Grady, “Medical and Ethical Questions Raised on Deaths of Critically Ill Patients,” New York Times, July 20, 2006. [www.nytimes.com/2006/07/20/healt ... ]

15. James J. Walter, “Proportionate Reason And Its Three Levels Of Inquiry: Structuring The Ongoing Debate,” Louvain Studies 10 (Spring, 1984): 32.

16. McCormick's criteria for proportionate reason first appeared in Richard McCormick, Ambiguity In Moral Choice (Milwaukee, WI.: Marquette University Press, 1973). He later reworked the criteria in response to criticism. His revised criteria can be found in Doing Evil To Achieve Good, eds. Richard McCormick and Paul Ramsey (Chicago, IL.: Loyola University Press, 1978).

17. Grady, 2.

18. Grady, 1.

19. Editor, “Judge Urges Resolution in Patient's Death,” New York Times, November 21, 2006. [www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/us/21 ... ]