Last updated on: 3/5/2009 | Author: ProCon.org

Frances M. Kamm, PhD Biography

Title:
Lucius Littauer Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy at John F. Kennedy School of Government
Position:
Pro to the question "Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?"
Reasoning:

“We have constructed a three-step argument for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia: Assuming patient consent, 1) we may permissibly cause death as a side effect if it relieves pain, because sometimes death is a lesser evil and pain relief a greater good; 2) we may permissibly intend other lesser evils to the patient, for the sake of her greater good; 3) therefore, when death is a lesser evil, it is sometimes permissible for us to intend death in order to stop pain. Call this the Three-Step Argument.”

“Physician-Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, and Intending Death,” in Physician-Assisted Suicide: Expanding the Debate, 1998
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with MDs, JDs, PhDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to end-of-life issues. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to end-of-life.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Lucius Littauer Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government
  • Member, Editorial Boards of Utilitas, Philosophy & Public Affairs, and Legal Theory
  • Member, Advisory Board of the Routledge International Library of Philosophy
  • Grant Recipient, American Council of Learned Societies
  • Former Fellow, Guggenheim Foundation
  • Former Fellow, American Association of University Women
  • Former Fellow, Columbia Law School
  • Former Fellow, Harvard Program in Ethics and the Professions
  • Former Fellow, Center for Human Values at Princeton University
  • Former Member, advisory board of the Routledge International Library of Philosophy
  • Former Consultant on Ethics, World Health Organization
Education:
  • PhD, School unknown
  • BA, School unknown
Other:
  • Specializes in normative ethical theory and problems in practical ethics related to medicine and law
Quoted in:
  1. Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?
  2. Is There a Moral Difference between Physician-Assisted Suicide and Active Euthanasia?
  3. Is There a Moral Difference between Passive Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide?
  4. What Is Passive Euthanasia?