Chapter 5 Reading Goals

Be able to explain the following key distinctions, their historical importance, and their limitations in practice:
- Killing versus letting die;
- Intending versus foreseeing harmful outcomes;
- Withholding versus withdrawing life-sustaining treatments; and
- Sustenance technologies versus medical treatments.
Explain the essential elements in a professional model of “due care” and how these elements relate to the issue of professional malpractice.
List and explain the necessary conditions for overriding the prima facie obligation to provide or continue medical treatment.
List and explain the qualifications for surrogate decision makers for noncompetent patients.
Explain the concept of group harm in research, and offer examples to illustrate.