Chapter 1

1. William E. Phipps argues that patients in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) are incapable of conscious thought and are therefore dead. In Phipps’s opinion, why are PVS patients incapable of conscious thought? What evidence does Jim Holt present to support his contention that comatose patients are capable of some conscious thought? In your opinion, is this evidence applicable to PVS patients? Why or why not"

2. Nancy Harvey asserts that dying patients should always be provided nutritional life support. According to Anne E. Fade, how might such life support measures cause discomfort to the dying patient? Why, in her opinion, should nutrition and hydration be withheld unless the dying patient requests it? Which author’s arguments do you find more persuasive? Explain.

Chapter 2

1. According to Ronald Dworkin, the U.S. Constitution does not prevent physicians from assisting terminally ill patients to...