TY - JOUR T1 - Aiming to kill: the ethics of suicide and euthanasia JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 556 LP - 556 DO - 10.1136/jme.2006.016857 VL - 32 IS - 9 AU - J Coggon Y1 - 2006/09/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/32/9/556.1.abstract N2 - Authored by Nigel Biggar, Longman and Todd: Published by Darton, 2004, £10.95 (paper back), pp 220. ISBN 0-232-52406-8 The literature on euthanasia and suicide is substantial and ever growing. In his book Aiming to kill, Nigel Biggar, a theologian, adds to this something that is hard to come across, in a concise but comprehensive form. His book explores the theological basis of the sanctity of life doctrine: rather than merely asserting what the doctrine demands, simply citing as authority that it is a traditional and fundamental principle, he offers an account of its historical and modern-day rationale. The book is divided into four unequal parts, whose quality varies. These chapters are designed to provide: firstly, the appropriate sociolegal and ethical context; secondly, an overview and analysis of arguments relating to the value of life; thirdly, an overview and analysis of arguments on the morality of killing; and finally, a section drawn from the conclusions of previous chapters and expounding the threat of the “slippery slope”. Biggar does not claim to come into the debate without … ER -