Historical analogies, slippery slopes, and the question of euthanasia.

Abstract

The German Nazi regime has become a standard model for unspeakable things that one should reject. Contemporary people will characterize political opponents, benighted policies, and other undesirable things as “fascist” or “Nazi.” In ethics, and medical ethics in particular, this analogy arises regularly. Therefore, it is not surprising that German people are particularly sensitive about their history. For example, the German high court regularly refers to the Nazi era in its reluctance to accept lethal social activities. This sensitivity surfaced again in 1988, when influential applied ethicist Peter Singer accepted a German invitation to speak to a Symposium on “Bioengineering, Ethics, and Mental Disability.” Singer had also agreed to deliver a separate lecture on the topic “Do severely disabled newborn infants have a right to life?”