End of life

Question 1

Assisted dying

Answer 1

A form of active and voluntary euthanasia where you ask a doctor for their help to end your life. This is illegal in Scotland but legal in other countries like the Netherlands, Canada and Belgium.

Question 2

Euthanasia

Answer 2

The act of deliberately ending a persons life with the intentions of ending their suffering.

Question 3

Passive euthanasia

Answer 3

Allowing a patient to die by withholding medical treatment. For example turning off a patients ventilator, not giving life saving antibiotics. This is legal in Scotland
In Scotland adults have the right to refuse any sort of treatment if they are capable to do so.

Question 4

Active euthanasia

Answer 4

Deliberately taking action to end a patients life. For example giving a patient muscle relaxer. This is illegal in Scotland

Question 5

Voluntary euthanasia

Answer 5

Where the sufferer has made it clear that they wish to die and have requested for this to happen.

Question 6

Non voluntary euthanasia

Answer 6

When the patient isn’t able to give consent or express a wish to die. For example if the patient is in a coma or an infant.

Question 7

The doctrine of double effect

Answer 7

When a patient is given very high doses of opioid painkiller due to their terminal illness. These high doses have the effect of suppressing breathing which may kill the patient. These doses are prescribed for their pain not to kill them.

Question 8

Non religious view (British Medical Association)

Answer 8

-used to oppose the legalisation of euthanasia or assisted dying as it would go against the fundamental role of doctors. They might change their attitudes to those with terminal illnesses or disabilities.
- in sept 2021 they changed their stance to neutral.

Question 9

Moral issues arising from assisted dying

Answer 9

• should we have the right to die?
  -is assisted dying necessary in today’s society with effective modern medicine and excellent end of life care?
• Should we ensure safeguards/protection of the most vulnerable in society?

Question 10

Terminal illness

Answer 10

An illness that can’t be cured and will kill you unless something else kills you first.

Question 11

Palliative care

Answer 11

Care that is not meant to cure the illness only relive suffering to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
Pain killers, anti-emetics, laxatives, antidepressants or surgery.

Question 12

Medical care

Answer 12

Care that is given by a doctor or other health care profesional.

Question 13

Social care

Answer 13

Care that is given by society for example neighbours, family, friends or sometimes even nurses.

Question 14

Dame cicely Saunders

Answer 14

A Christian who started the hospices movement.
“It is killing, rather than caring, which denies the dignity of the dying.”

Question 15

Moral issues arising from end of life care

Answer 15

• is end of life care more moral than euthanasia?
• is the height cost of palliative care justified?

Question 16

Religious view (Church of Scotland)

Answer 16

• assisted dying violates the sanctity of life
• “The situation must never arise where the elderly or terminally ill feel pressurised by society to end their lives.” Church of Scotland.
• Rejects anything that includes intentionally taking a step to end someone’s life.
• they believe that a Christians have no right to end their own life.

Question 17

Religious views (Roman Catholic)

Answer 17

• Bishops’ conference of Scotland “we believe human life must be fully protected by law at every stage.”
  -They believe that time and money should be put towards end of life care not assisted dying.
  -Pope Benedict summarises the Church’s teachings about life as being from conception untill natural death.
• assisted dying will out medical staff in a difficult position.

Question 18

Non religious view (Humanism)

Answer 18

• assisted dying is permisable as long as it’s only for terminally ill people and safeguards are in place, it’s also important that the person takes the last step in ending their life.
• A person has the right to end their life when they want to and society should accept their decision.
• if a person has no quality of life then euthanasia should be allowed.
  -to them there is no difference between assisted dying and passive euthanasia. They believe that the intention and outcome are the same.

Question 19

Non religious view (Utilitarianism)

Answer 19

• They would reject assisted dying if it made vulnerable people feel pressured.
• utilitarians believe that assisted dying can provide support for a person during a difficult time (relive suffering)
• Peter singer (known utilitarian) thinks it’s more controversial to use resources and money on helping someone who will die.