1. Dax Cowart ("Confronting Death: Who Chooses, Who Controls? A Dialogue" pp. 76-80)

During the period between Dax's accident and his recovery, he asked several people to either help him die or to allow him to die, among them were the following:

• Charles Baxter, the attending M.D.
• Dax's mother
• Robert Meier, rehab specialist
• Duane Larson, surgeon

(a) What is "competence"? What is "autonomy"? How are they related, if at all? Explain the meaning of each. Describe an example unrelated to the Cowart case to illustrate your answers. (15 pts)

(b) At what point in Dax's treatment was he competent, according to your answer in (a)? Explain. Was Dax's autonomy violated by any of the people in the list above? Explain. (10 pts)

At several different times during his treatment, Dax asked that he be allowed to die.

(c) Would Peter Singer's think that Dax's request should have been honored? As part of your answer, explain how utilitarianism is relevant. (Reread: "Voluntary Euthanasia" (text, pp. 604-612) (10 pts)

(d) Would Gay-Williams' think that Dax's request should have been honored? As part of your answer, explain the relevance of natural law theory. (Reread "The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia" (text, pp. 602-604) (10 pts)

(e) When do you think Dax should have been allowed to die, if at all? Explain. (5 pts)