Chapter 10: Euthanasia & Physician-Assisted Suicide

Question 1

Active euthanasia

Answer 1

Performing an action that directly caused someone to die; “mercy killing

Question 2

Passive euthanasia

Answer 2

Allowing someone to die by not doing something that would prolong life

Question 3

Voluntary euthanasia

Answer 3

Euthanasia performed when competent patients voluntarily request or agree to it

Question 4

Involuntary euthanasia

Answer 4

Bringing about someone’s death against her will or without asking for her consent although she is competent to decide

Question 5

Nonvoluntary euthanasia

Answer 5

Euthanasia performed when patients are not compete t to choose it for themselves and have not previously disclosed their preferences

Question 6

What is the traditional view of the definition of death?

Answer 6

Death is the cessation of breathing and heartbeat

Question 7

What is the standard definition of death in law and medicine?

Answer 7

Whole brain view: an individual should be judged dead when all brain functions permanently stop

Question 8

What is an alternative notion of the standard definition of death in law and medicine?

Answer 8

Higher brain standard: individuals are dead when the higher brain functions responsible for consciousness permanently close down

Question 9

What is the argument for autonomy with regard to active voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 9

Respecting people’s inherent right of self-determination means respecting their autonomous choices about ending their lives

Question 10

What is the argument for beneficence with regard to active voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 10

If we are in a position to relieve the severe suffering of another without excessive cost to ourselves, we have an obligation to do so

Question 11

What is the argument against active voluntary euthanasia with consideration of the moral difference between killing and letting die?

Answer 11

Killing is worse than letting die, so giving a patient a lethal injection to effect an easy death is wrong, but disconnecting his feeding tube may be permissible

Question 12

What is the argument against active voluntary euthanasia with consideration of the moral difference between intending someone’s death and not intending but foreseeing it?

Answer 12

The former (intending death) is wrong; the latter (only foreseeing death) is permissible

Question 13

Euthanasia

Answer 13

Directly or indirectly bringing about the death of another person for that person’s sake