Question: 1. What do you think was Cohn & Lynn's most important point about Hardwig failing to consider the full impact of a duty to die on a person nearing the end of life?
2. What struck you as the most important thing Cohn & Lynn brought up to show that Hardwig has failed to consider the full societal impact of a duty to die?
3. What inconsistency in Hardwig's thinking regarding "justifiable" suicide do Cohn & Lynn point out?
4. Why do Cohn & Lynn suggest the remarks made by Pope John Paul II indicated a backlash on the subject of nutrition and hydration? (Check footnote 2 for an excerpt.)
5. What did you think was the most important point emphasized by Cohn & Lynn in their discussion of the case of Terry Schiavo? (Check footnote 3 if you are unfamiliar with the details of her case.)
6. What did you think was the most important misrepresentation Cohn & Lynn said Hardwig took for granted in asserting his concept of a duty to die? Do you agree that he does in fact rely on all the misrepresentations they claim he does?
7. Why do Cohn & Lynn disagree with Hardwig's assertion that physicians have a monopoly on access to drugs?
8. Do you believe they made a good case that the reaction to his argument was really more one of dismay rather than emotional recoil? If so, explain what part of their argument you found most compelling. If not, explain what you saw as a weak point.
9. Do you think that Cohn & Lynn's discussion of rights and correlative responsibilities is an accurate account of Hardwig's reasoning?
10. Footnote 9 references a study of euthanasia abuse in the Netherlands, conducted after Hooker's article was written. Does it change your perspective on his views?
11. What do Cohn & Lynn say about reciprocity and family responsibility? Is this is a better way to look at the issue than framing it in terms of rights and responsibilities?
12. Cohn & Lynn claim Hardwig's analysis implies Kantian and utilitarian elements, even though he does not identify them as such? What are those elements? Do you think Cohn & Lynn are correct?