Sanctity of Life and Human Dignity

Preface; K. Bayertz, H.T. Engelhardt, Jr. Introduction. Sanctity of life and human dignity; K. Bayertz. Part One: Sanctity of Life. The concept of sanctity of life and its use in contemporary bioethical discussion; J. Keenans, S.J. Sanctity of life, voluntary euthanasia and the Dutch experience: some implications for public policy; H. Kuhse. Value of life vs. sanctity of life - outlines of a bioethics that does without the concept of `Menschenwürde'; W. Lenzen. Sanctity of life and human dignity at the bedside; S. Wear. Part Two: Human Dignity. Human dignity: philosophical origin and scientific erosion of an idea; K. Bayertz. The general notion of human dignity and the specific arguments in medical ethics; M. Hailer, D. Ritschl. Ambiguities in the concept of Menschenwürde; D. Birnbacher. Human dignity and genetic tests; T. Petermann. Part Three: The Concept of a Person. The concept of a person in moral philosophy; L. Honnefelder. Persons as `self-originating sources of value'; A. Leist. Alterity and judgement - some moral implications of Hegel's concept of life; M.C. Rawlinson. Part Four: Problems of Critical Care. Sanctity of life and Menschenwürde: can these concepts help direct the use of resources in critical care? H.T. Engelhardt, Jr. Not sanctity or dignity, but justice and autonomy: key moral concepts in the allocation of critical care; J.C. Moskop. Sanctity of life and the neonatologist's dilemma; V. von Lowenich. The sancity of human life: Secular moral authority, biomedicine, and the role of the State; K.Wm. Wildes, S.J. On the appeal for the recognition of Menschenwürde in law and morality; M. Honecker.Appendix: The concept of human dignity: an annotated bibliography; B. Haferkamp. The sanctity of life: a literature review; G. Khushf. Notes on contributors. Index.