Applied Ethics - Euthanasia

Question 1

What is the sanctity of life argument?

Answer 1

• The idea that human life has an intrinsic value
• Life is set apart by God
• God created life so only he can end it
• created in the image of God so even more valuable
• God = human as jesus = was a human for a reason
• Bible is scared and states human life is of worth (protestants)

Question 2

scripture for sanctity of life

Answer 2

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13
‘ your body is a temple of the holy spirit, given by God, and does not belong to yourself’

Question 3

scholarly support for sanctity of life …

Answer 3

*Aquinas

*Bishop Clemens August

*If we allow the killing of the weak eventually this will lead to the killing of anyone seen an unproductive.

*Pope Francis - embryos until elderly must be treated with respect

Question 4

what is peter Singers argument for quality of life?

Answer 4

• people have different qualities of life and this is what should judge wether they can have euth or not

Question 5

what is peter Subers argument for quality of life?

Answer 5

we cannot allocate resources or priorities patients if all human life is of equal value, it is impractical for society.

Question 6

What is voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 6

Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain makes the conscious decision to ask for help to die.

Question 7

strengths of voluntary euthanasia

Answer 7

è We are autonomous beings

è Dignity

è Allows them to be In control

è 10% of suicides in England involved terminally ill people

è we have no control on how we arrive in the world but we should on how we leave it’ Patrick Stuart

è Legal in UK means people dot have to spend so much going to dignitas

Question 8

weaknesses of voluntary euthanasia

Answer 8

è Slippering slope

è Gives too much power to doctors

è Who decides who’s eligible for them - its not about legalising suicide its legalising others too kill

è Could stop advancement in treatments for certain illnesses

è Sanctity of life

Question 9

What is non-voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 9

This is when the person is unconscious or otherwise unable to make a meaningful choice between living and dying, and an appropriate person makes the decision on their behalf.

Question 10

an example of non voluntary euthanasia ?

Answer 10

For example, Tony Bland was a labourer from Keighley, West Yorkshire

He died on 3 March, 1993, nearly four years after the Hillsborough disaster.

Question 11

strengths of non-voluntary euthanasia

Answer 11

è In the best interest of the patient

è “it might be in the best interests of the person to bring about their death, in so far as it brings an end to distress. “Andrew Pickens

è Costly and time

è Clarity for family

stops murder

Question 12

weaknesses of non-voluntary euthanasia

Answer 12

è They’re not given the choice

è Who decides for them

è How do we measure when someone’s life isn’t worth living “There is no adequate test for deciding the point at which someone’s life is not worth living? Jonathon Glover

è Against our duty

Question 13

what did Stephen hawking’s say about euthanasia ?

Answer 13

‘those in pain should have the right to choose to end their own life, and those that help should be free from prosecution’

Question 14

what did George pitcher say about euthanasia ?

Answer 14

‘the change in the law would have’ profound effects … on our attitudes towards those who are ill and have disabilities’

Question 15

what does law say about euthanasia ?

Answer 15

Currently, assisting a suicide is a crime in England and Wales and is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

Question 16

what did andrew pickens say

Answer 16

“it might be in the best interests of the person to bring about their death, in so far as it brings an end to distress. “Andrew Pickens

Question 17

sociological argument against sancitity

Answer 17

• it was a strcit argument used in non-civilised ancient communities. It was respected because God is a motivator for law abiding behaviour. It is not relevnt today and was just a means of maintaining social order.

Question 18

theme criticism of sanctity

Answer 18

• saving life is just one theme, there are other themes such as AGAPE and compassion which could overrule it
• tillich argued there is so much dogma and do nots in the bible we should have a more positive outlooked using agape

Question 19

what is the quality of life argument?

Answer 19

refers to how happy or unhappy a life is. Proponents of the quality of life in relation to euthanasia regard it as a valid ethical consideration because they think that life has to be of a certain quality in order for it to count as worth living.

Question 20

singers view on sanctity of life

Answer 20

• the sanctity of life of members of our species (humans) was based on ‘Christian domination of European thought’, especially belief in an afterlife and that God had ownership of us, his creation.
• since Christian theological tenants are no longer accepted, we should re-evaluate Christian ethical precepts too.

Question 21

singer and the wrongness of killing

Answer 21

• what we find wrong with killing is that it stops them from wanting to live
• yet people requesting euth do not want to live so it is not wrong
• people with no consciousness do not even know what is happening so they cannot wish for their life to continue so we can kill them because theyre not being deprived of a preference

Question 22

what is singers theory

Answer 22

preference util

Question 23

what is the slippery slope argument?

Answer 23

The slippery slope is an argument which suggests that if we allow something in an extreme case, it won’t be long until we allow it in a less extreme case and so on until it’s allowed in many or all cases.

Question 24

what is autonomy?

Answer 24

is the freedom of people to make their own choices. This isn’t directly a view on the value of life, but it is the view that the decision about whether a life is valuable ought morally to be up to the individual whose life it is.

Question 25

two methods of autonomy?

Answer 25

deontological and consequentialist

Question 26

nozicks view

Answer 26

• drew on kant
• justifies liberation value of ‘ self owneship’
• they have the right to chose euth outside of the law

Question 27

difference between passive and active euthanasia?

Answer 27

passive is when there isnt medical intervention and doctors do not provide someone with something necessary to continue life so that they die e.g., removal of life support

whereas, active is when medics give them something to die