1.1.5 Euthanasia Flashcards
What is Euthanasia conceptually?
From the Greek, eu ‘good’ and thanatos ‘death’.
The act of killing or permitting the death of a person who is suffering from a serious illness. It is sometimes referred to as ‘mercy killing’.
What does Euthanasia actually mean?
Euthanasia means to make a decision about when and how death occurs. Most often euthanasia is considered by people who are suffering from a terminal and painful illness. They may feel that their quality of life is poor and want to die before their pain and suffering becomes too much for them or begins to affect their relationships with others in a negative way or before they lose their independence.
What is Voluntary Euthanasia?
Voluntary euthanasia is when someone requests to die but needs help to do so. They are unable to commit suicide. This is often called assisted suicide.
What is Involuntary Euthanasia?
Involuntary euthanasia is when someone makes the decision on behalf of someone else because that person is unable to make the decision independently. For example, they may be in a coma or only a few hours old.
What is Active Euthanasia?
Active euthanasia is when something is done to end life. For example, a lethal dose of drugs may be given. This is illegal in the UK.
What is Passive Euthanasia?
Passive euthanasia is when a decision is made to stop treatment and as a result the person will die. Some people believe that this is not euthanasia as nothing is actually given to the person to bring their life to an end.
How do Christians who disagree with euthanasia support their view?
- God created human life – life is God given; it is a gift from God and as such is holy and not disposable. Human life belongs to God and it is our duty to look after it and use it well.
- Because human life is given by God and precious to him it is specifically protected. Ending human life is forbidden.
- If God is the creator of life, then it is He who should decide its end.
- Christians believe that suffering can have a spiritual value. Many Christians believe that suffering at the end of life connects them to the suffering of Jesus. Jesus’ suffering on the cross had a purpose and achieved a good. Christians take this as evidence that suffering at the end of life has a purpose.
- Christians who oppose euthanasia believe that compassionate treatment of those who are suffering is to care for them not kill them. They believe that hospices are a compassionate response to those who are affected by painful and debilitating terminal illness.
- Many Christians agree that doctors may give drugs for the purpose of pain relief even if these drugs have the side effect of shortening the patient’s life, as the intention is to treat the pain not to end life.
- Many Christians also agree that if a person is suffering, they can refuse extraordinary medical care – that is care that will lengthen their life but also their suffering. This is not the same as euthanasia because nothing is actively given to the patient to end their life - it ends as a consequence of natural factors.
What do Quakers believe about Euthanasia?
The Quaker response to assisted dying is that whilst hospice (palliative care) provides comfort and eases pain for many people there are some illnesses where such a response is inadequate and a person may endure unbearable suffering. The Quaker response to euthanasia encourages each individual to “consider what love requires in each individual circumstance” and does aim to reach a united response amongst all Quakers. Each person is able to decide for themselves what is the most loving choice.
What are some arguments for euthanasia? (7)
- Human beings should have the right to be able to decide when and how they die (self-determination).
- Euthanasia enables a person to die with dignity and in control of their situation; once a person knows that their suffering will come to an end at a time they have decided, they are often able to life the last few months or weeks of their fully and make the most of the time they have left.
- Death is a private matter and the state should not interfere with the individual’s right to die.
- It is expensive to keep people alive when there is no cure for their illness. Euthanasia would release precious resources to
treat people who could live. - Family and friends would be spared the pain of seeing their loved one suffer a long-drawn-out death.
- Society permits animals to be put down as an act of kindness when they are suffering; the same treatment should be available to humans.
- Quality of life is more important than its length.
What are some arguments against euthanasia? (10)
- Euthanasia would weaken society’s respect for the value and importance of human life – life could come to be seen as something which is disposable.
- Proper palliative care is available which reduces or removes the need for people to be in pain.
- It would lead to worse care for the terminally ill – it might be suggested as a treatment too quickly and other options might be
overlooked. - It would put too much power in the hands of doctors, and damage the trust between patient and doctor.
- Some people may feel pressured to request euthanasia by family, friends or doctors, when it isn’t what they really want.
- It would undermine the commitment of doctors and nurses to save lives.
- It would discourage the search for new cures and treatments for the terminally ill.
- Some people unexpectedly recover.
- Some people may change their mind about euthanasia and be unable to tell anyone.
- Voluntary euthanasia could be the first step on a slippery slope that leads to involuntary euthanasia, where those who are undesirable or seen as a problem could be killed.
What do humanists believe about euthanasia? (3)
- Humanists believe that each individual has the right to make decisions about their own life (the principle of autonomy) as long as such decisions do not harm others.
- Each person has their own views on what gives their life quality and other people can not make judgements about another persons quality of life.
- Humanists have supported attempts to legalise assisted dying in the UK and agree that any assisted dying law must contain strong safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals. The British Humanist association supports the organisation “Dignity in Dying”.
What is Dignity in Dying?
- Dignity in Dying is an organisation that believes assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults should be legal in the UK.
- Dignity in Dying believes the right law for the UK is one that allows dying people, with six months or less to live the option to control their death. It does not support a wider law (e.g. euthanasia for those who are not terminally ill).
What does Dignity in Dying state, in regard to the law they would like to be put forward?
“Dying people are not suicidal – they don’t want to die but they do not have the choice to live. When death is inevitable, suffering should not be. Along with good care, dying people deserve the choice to control the timing and manner of their death.”
What does the Bill, Dignity in Dying pushes for, include? (5)
- limited to terminally ill and mentally competent adults
- requires the dying person to end their own life and does not permit another person to do it for them
- has a waiting period to give dying people time to reflect on their decision
- requires assessment by doctors and a high-court judge
- allows the dying person to die at home
What does Dignity in Dying want people to have? (3)
- To have the right to choose where they die, who is present and what treatment options are available.
- Have access to expert information about end-of-life care options and good quality end-of-life care.
- Have control over how they die; for example, the pain relief they have.
