The quality/quantity-of-life distinction and its moral importance for nurses

In this paper we reject the "sanctity-of-life" view, which holds that all human lives, irrespective of their quality or kind, are equally valuable and inviolable. We argue that health-care professionals intent on acting in the patients' best interests cannot avoid quality-of-life judgments--for there is a close link between the quality, and kind of life, a patient has and her best interests. This paper reflects on some of these issues.