RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pulling up the runaway: the effect of new evidence on euthanasia's slippery slope.
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 341
OP 344
DO 10.1136/jme.24.5.341
VO 24
IS 5
A1 C J Ryan
YR 1998
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/24/5/341.abstract
AB The slippery slope argument has been the mainstay of many of those opposed to the legalisation of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. In this paper I re-examine the slippery slope in the light of two recent studies that examined the prevalence of medical decisions concerning the end of life in the Netherlands and in Australia. I argue that these two studies have robbed the slippery slope of the source of its power--its intuitive obviousness. Finally I propose that, contrary to the warnings of the slippery slope, the available evidence suggests that the legalisation of physician-assisted suicide might actually decrease the prevalence of non-voluntary and involuntary euthanasia.