1.5 Euthanasia

Question 1

active euthanasia

Answer 1

a treatment is given that directly causes the death of the individual

Question 1

linguistic origin of euthanasia?

Answer 1

meaning a ‘good death’ from the Greek ‘eu’ meaning good and ‘thanatos’ meaning death

Question 2

passive euthanasia

Answer 2

the withdrawal of treatment that is keeping a patient alive

Question 3

voluntary euthanasia

Answer 3

a person chooses to be euthanised

Question 4

non-voluntary euthanasia

Answer 4

where a severely or terminally ill person’s life is ended without their consent as they are unable to give consent

Question 5

involuntary euthanasia

Answer 5

when a person is able to give consent but they are euthanised without their pemission

Question 6

what three bible quotes are often given to support the principle of sanctity of life?

Answer 6

1. ‘so God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them’ - Genesis
2. ‘you shall not murder’ - Exodus, part of the ten commandments
3. ‘the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’ - Job

Question 7

what does Peter Singer argue should replace the traditional sanctity of life ethics?

Answer 7

five quality of life commandments
1. recognise that the worth of human life varies
2. take responsibility for the consequences of your decisions
3. respect a pesron’s desire to live or die
4. bring children into the world only if they are wanted
5. do not discriminate on the basis of species

Question 8

what is the sanctity of life

Answer 8

• a religious view
• sees the instrinsic value of life
• supported by natural law
• absolute

Question 9

what is quality of life

Answer 9

• a secular view
• instrumental view
• supported by situation ethics and utilitarianism
• conditional upon the situation

Question 10

what do supporters of euthanasia often point to

Answer 10

• autonomy, we have a right to choose what to do with our bodies
• can be seen in Mil’s harm principle
• checks out for voluntary euthanasia but can be tricky for non-voluntary such as in the case of Tony Bland when he was unable to give consent… could lead to slippery slope?

Question 11

how did Jonathon Glover comment on allowing euthanasia?

Answer 11

• argued there should be several checks on whether someone should be assisted to die
• external judgment on the persons quality of life as well as their mental state

Question 12

what is the hippocratic oath?

Answer 12

i will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to that affect

difference between an act and an omission though?

Question 13

James Rachels comment on euthanasia?

Answer 13

• questions whether the difference between actively killing and passively letting someone die is helpful
• someone is to inherit a fortune if their nephew dies, he either drowns him in the bath as an ‘act’ or watches his nephew drown and does nothing about it as an ‘omission’
• is there really a difference, legally yes but morally?

Question 14

Jonathon Glover’s comment on acts vs omission?

Answer 14

• argues the distinction between act and omissions is not so clear cut, similar to Rachels
• highlights the complexity of euthanasia
• instead there are five options for euthanasia:
  1. take all possible steps to preserve life
  2. tale all ordinary steps to preserve life but don’t use extraordinary means
  3. not killing but taking no steps to preserve life
  4. an act, not intended to kill, has death as a possible consequence
  5. the deliberate act of killing

Question 15

what is another way in which acts and omissions become complicated?

Answer 15

• highlighted by Singer
• used the example of the Tony Bland case
• was the removal of the feeding tube an act as it led to his death or an omission as he was no longer feeding him not directly killing him

Question 16

three arguments natural law provides a good answer to euthanasia?

Answer 16

1. it upholds the intrinsic value of life and focuses on the sanctity of life
2. pretty straightforward and prevents the ambiguities and confusions that come with situation ethics as deontological theory
3. prevents humans from abusing power over others

Question 17

two arguments natural law does not give a good answer to euthanasia?

Answer 17

1. its religious foundations make it seem outdated in an increasingly secular world - quality over sanctity
2. it is legalistic and shows no compassion to the pain and suffering experienced by terminally ill people

Question 18

two strengths of situation ethics for euthanasia?

Answer 18

1. it is flexible to individual situations and recognises that no two are the same, particularyl relevant when talking about acts v omissions
2. agape love, if correctly understood, is about ensuring the best posisble outcome for the persons involved

Question 19

two weaknesses for situation ethics for euthanasia?

Answer 19

1. potentially ‘do the most loving thing’ can be vague and too simplistic for such complex situations, could end up just being a matter of opinion
2. it has the same weaknesses as utilitarianism, requires a prediction of the future etc.

Question 20

what modern philosophers are opposed to euthanasia?

Answer 20

Daniel Callahan
- 21st century American philosopher
- opposed to euthanasia on the grounds of sanctity of life, says that it undermines societal respect for life in general

John Keown
- defended the sanctity of life
- pointed out the slippery slope to involuntary euthanasia

Paul Ramsey
- also sanctity of life
- stressed the importance of care without intentionally causing death

Question 21

JS Mill

Answer 21

• harm principle
• although there arises difficulties about to what extent this does harm others
• also doesn’t address the issue of involuntary/non-voluntary euthanasia

Question 22

Derek Humphry

Answer 22

• contemporary American journalist
• founder of organisations advocating for the right to die with dignity
• he has written extensively on the topic of euthanasia and assisted dying and particularly emphasises the choice to alleviate the suffering of terminally ill individuals