20. ETHICAL ARGUMENTS REGARDING EUTHANASIA Flashcards
- What are the advantages of Euthanasia?
- CONSISTENCY
- suicide is accepted
- it can be caused by passive or active euthanasia
- lethal injections and pain killers can be used - PRINCIPLES AT PLAY:
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- What are the arguments against Euthanasia?
- EUTHANASIA GOES AGAINST:
- The sanctity of life
- Palliative care
- Non-Maleficence
- Physician Integrity
- Protection of the Vulnerable
- THE ARGUMENTS ARE A SLIPPERY SLOPE
- people value life differently
- very subjective topic
- KILLING IS WRONG
- we are praying on the vulnerability of sick patients
- they are desperate and suffering
- these patients are lonely
- their decision is not made on a clear mind
- What does the Law in England state regarding Suicide, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia?
- self inflicted suicide is not unlawful in England
- assisted suicide is unlawful in England
- it is seen as an attempted or assisted murder
- Euthanasia is illegal in England
- it is seen as a form of homicide and manslaughter
- In which countries is Euthanasia legal?
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Colombia
- Western Australia
- Spain
- Canada
- Luxembourg
- In which countries is Assisted Suicide lawful?
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Germany
- Australia (Victoria)
- USA
(Vermont, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, New
Jersey, California, Montana) - Canada
- Look at this case.
What is Terminal Sedation?
IS USED SPECIFICALLY:
- during end of life care
- it aims to relieve distress in a terminally ill person in
their last days of life
IT IS USUALLY DONE BY MEANS OF:
- continuous intravenous drugs
- subcutaneous infusion of sedative drugs
- specialised catheter that provides a comfortable and
discreet administration of ongoing medications via the
rectal route
IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS:
- Palliative Sedation
- Continuous Deep Sedation
- Sedation for intractable distress of a dying patient
- Look at this case.
If Doctor Smith uses a Terminal Sedation, can it be said that he has committed active Euthanasia?
IF DOCTOR SMITH PRESCRIBES THE HIGH DOSE DIAMORPHINE:
- with the intention of relieving Anna’s pain
- this is not a form of Euthanasia
- even if Anna’s life may be shortened
IF DOCTOR SMITH PRESCRIBES THE HIGH DOSE DIAMORPHINE:
- with the intention of killing Anna
- this is a form of Euthanasia
- even if he wanted to relieve Anna’s pain q
- Look at this case.
Would he be responsible for Anna’s Death?
AS LONG AS DR SMITH INTENDED TO REDUCE ANNA’S SUFFERING:
- and did not intend her death
- he is unlikely to be found guilty of murder
NB:
- this is known as the Doctrine of Double Effect.
- What does the Doctrine of Double Effect look at?
- that the nature of the act is not bad
- at least one of the act’s consequences is good
- at least one of the act’s consequences is bad
- there is a sufficiently serious reason for allowing the
bad consequences to occur - the bad consequence is not a means to the good
consequence - the agent foresees the bad consequence
but intends the good consequences
- What is the legality related to the Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE) ?
- the law allows the Doctrine of Double Effect to apply in
some cases
EXAMPLE:
- a doctor may lawfully administer painkilling drugs
- despite the fact that he knows that an incidental effect
of that application will be to shorten the patient’s life
- What is Death Tourism?
- people have accompanied their relatives or friends to
Dignitas to watch the procedure - this is an Assisted Euthanasia centre in Switzerland
- this is where a cocktail of drugs is administered ti them
to cause death
- What are some examples of Death Tourism cases?
- Daniel James
- 23 years old and paralysed playing rugby
- Sir Edward and Lady Joan Downes
- multiple health conditions
- cancer
- Dr Anne Turner
- Supranuclear Palsy
- Look at this case.
What can be observed?
- her husband would be taken to court as someone who
has witnessed an assisted murder - she aimed to solve this issue before she underwent her
Euthanasia
- According to the Director of Public Prosecution, what are the factors that will weigh in favour of those involved in assisted Euthanasia to be prosecuted?
- the patient is under the age of 18
- questions about the patient’s capacity
- there is no clear, settled or informed wish to die
- equivocal about dying
- the process is not initiated by the person that is dying
- the patient does not have a terminal illness
- the patient does not have a severe or incurable
physical disability - the patient does not have a severe degenerative
disease - the procedure is not motivated by compassion
- the procedure is motivated by personal gain
- there is evidence of persuasion, coercion, influence
and pressure
- According to the Director of Public Prosecution, what are the factors that will weigh against those involved in assisted Euthanasia to be prosecuted?
- there is a clear, settled and informed wish to die
- the patient is unequivocal and consistent about dying
- the process was initiated by the person who died
- the patient does have a terminal illness
- the patient does have a severe or incurable
physical disability - the patient does have a severe degenerative
disease - the procedure is solely motivated by compassion
- the person offering assistance is a spouse, partner,
close relative or friend - they have a long standing and supportive relationship
with the patient - the assistance provided was minor
- Answer this question.
- yes it is
- it is a form of Passive euthanasia
- you are intentionally letting a patient die by
withholding artificial life support - you have taken it away from them
- Answer this question.
- any kind of assisted euthanasia or suicide
- Does this summary make sense?
- yes
