First published in 1985. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction. 1. Beings, human beings and persons I. When does life begin? II. When does life begin to matter morally? III. How do we recognise persons? IV. Persons and full human beings V. Once a person always a person? VI. Conclusion 2. Above all do no harm 3. Must doctors help their patients? 4. Killing: A caring thing to do? I. Death removes a threat II. Death is a benefit III. Wanting to live and wanting to die IV. Death promotes other values V. Safeguards VI. The justification of euthanasia 5. The value of life I. The moral significance of age II. Worthwhile lives III. The moral advantage of dependants and friends IV. The moral advantage of usefulness V. Moral worth VI. What should we do? 6. The beginnings of life I. What's happening now II. Experiments on embryos III. The slippery slope 7. Whose body is it anyway? I. Who's mother whose baby? II. Morally unsound parents 8. A woman's right to choose I. To be or not to be - a mother II. Doing it my way III. Final choice: the all-female world 9. Sexual morality and the natural 10. Respect for persons I I. Respect for persons II. What is autonomy? III. Is paternalist interference justified? IV. Consent 11. Respect for persons II I. Children, lunatics, barbarians and animals II. Respect for the dead III. Self-inflicted illness IV. Confidentiality V. Ultimate principles and moral values 12. Death is abolished I. What is dealth? II. Live persons and dead bodies III. Machine people IV. Death is abolished V. Are the frozen really persons? Notes. Suggested further reading. Index.