Mercy Killing? In Italy in November 2007 a 77-year-old man shot and killed his 82- year-old wife as she lay in bed in a hospital. His wife had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease eight years...

Mercy Killing? In Italy in November 2007 a 77-year-old man shot and killed his 82- year-old wife as she lay in bed in a hospital. His wife had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease eight years earlier. He told police he did it because he could not stand to see her suffer.

a. What would Rule-Utilitarianism say about this case? Expound your answer.  b. Do you consider this as mercy killing? Why? Why not?