{"product_id":"9780786166282","title":"Abortion \u0026 Euthanasia","description":"\u003cp\u003eBritish and American common law traditionally prohibited \u003cb\u003eabortion\u003c\/b\u003e only after \u003ci\u003equickening\u003c\/i\u003e (when the mother feels fetal movements). But after the U.S. Civil War, states began absolutely prohibiting abortion, based primarily on medical concerns. Then in 1973, U.S. abortion law was dramatically changed by the Supreme Court's decision in \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRoe v. Wade\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e; states now \u003ci\u003ecould not prohibit\u003c\/i\u003e abortion until the third trimester of pregnancy, and restrictive regulations were allowed only in the second trimester. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHistory has known various laws and mores about life's beginning, often related to the society's code of sexual behavior. Today's moral debate on abortion pits \u003ci\u003eautonomy\u003c\/i\u003e (or personal liberty) against the duty \u003ci\u003enot to harm others\u003c\/i\u003e. Also involved are various understanding of \u003ci\u003eensoulment\u003c\/i\u003e -- that is, how a new person comes into being. Much depends on the \u003ci\u003eimportance\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003edistinctiveness\u003c\/i\u003e of the many changes from a potential to an actual, fully human life. These stages include insemination, combination of DNA, womb implant, appearance of human physical features, fetal movement, response to stimulus, quickening, viability (potential to live outside the womb), birth, speaking, and using reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEuthanasia\u003c\/b\u003e means \"good or peaceful death\"; however, it may also be a form of \u003ci\u003esuicide\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003ekilling\u003c\/i\u003e, where morality depends heavily on motive. \u003ci\u003ePassive euthanasia\u003c\/i\u003e (a.k.a. \"letting die\")., includes refusing treatment for oneself and withholding life support for others. \u003ci\u003eActive euthanasia\u003c\/i\u003e -- a direct, positive act of mercy killing - is forbidden by virtually all ethical codes, though many defend it as a merciful alternative to a lingering, agonizing, fatal illness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysicians have potentially conflicting obligations to \u003ci\u003eperserve life\u003c\/i\u003e and to \u003ci\u003erelieve pain\u003c\/i\u003e; patients increasingly have taken responsibility for medical decisions based on \u003ci\u003einformed consent\u003c\/i\u003e. Courts have repeatedly affirmed a patient's right to refuse treatment, based on the \u003ci\u003eright to privacy\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eright to liberty\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith life-extending technologies, the distinction between \u003ci\u003eordinary \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e \"extraordinary\" \u003c\/i\u003etreatment usually is based either on \u003ci\u003ecustom, cost, complexity, \u003c\/i\u003eor\u003ci\u003e the ratio of benefits to burdens from the patient's point of view\u003c\/i\u003e. But \"rights\" to such care can be very costly; if a patient cannot pay, is it a \"right\" to demand or expect payment from others?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knowledge Products, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47094881485040,"sku":"9780786166282","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780786166282_p0.jpg?v=1763665760","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780786166282","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}