
Contents
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Case: Christine Case: Christine
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Key Terminology Key Terminology
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The Non-Identity Problem and the Argument for Replacement The Non-Identity Problem and the Argument for Replacement
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Arguments Against Replacement Arguments Against Replacement
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Disability Isn’t (So) Bad Disability Isn’t (So) Bad
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Moral Status Moral Status
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Absurd Conclusions Absurd Conclusions
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The Insubstantial-Reason Argument Against Replacement The Insubstantial-Reason Argument Against Replacement
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The Next Child in the Queue The Next Child in the Queue
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Against the Insubstantial-Reason Argument Against the Insubstantial-Reason Argument
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Separating Replacement and Conception Separating Replacement and Conception
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Conclusion Conclusion
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References References
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Cite
Abstract
An alternative ethical justification for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment would be to allow disabled newborn infants or children to die where this would allow parents to have another (unimpaired) child. Replacement has been argued to be an important factor for decisions by several philosophers and is sometimes mentioned by doctors or parents. What weight should we give to it in decisions about newborn infants or children? This chapter starts with a description of the non-identity problem and the analogy with ‘substitution’ (decisions to conceive one child rather than another). The philosophical argument in favour of replacement is non-individual-affecting or ‘impersonal’. However, this argument appears insubstantial once it is subjected to scrutiny. It is argued that the only significant moral reason to take into account replacement in decisions for newborn infants is that this would sometimes be in the interests of others, particularly parents and siblings.
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