Beginning of Essay
is one of the most acute and uncomfortable contemporary problems in medical ethics. Is Ethical? The case for rests on one main fundamental moral principle: mercy. It is not a new issue; has been discussed-and practised-in both Eastern and Western cultures fro ....

Middle of Essay
.... at the time of resuscitation, it can be a brutal procedure, and if the patient regains consciousness, its aftermath can involve considerable pain. In many such cases, the patient will die whether or not the treatments are performed. In some cases, however, the principle of mercy may also demand withholding treatment that could extend the patient's life if the treatment is itself painful or discomfort. The principle of mercy may also demand letting die in a still stronger sense. Under its second component, the principle asserts a duty to act to end suffering that is already occurring. Medicine already honours this duty through its various t ....