End of Life Ethics

Question 1

What is euthanasia?

Answer 1

• Greek meaning - “A good death”.
• It has come to mean the act of intentionally ending a life usually with the intention of relieving pain and suffering.

Question 2

Describe the difference between voluntary and involuntary euthanasia.

Answer 2

• Voluntary
  
  • ​Patient can consent to either not having life prolonged or actively having life ended.
• Involuntary
  
  • ​The patient cannot consent.
  • This could be a child or a patient who has lost their ability to consent for whatever reason.

Question 3

Describe the difference between active and passive euthanasia.

Answer 3

• Active
  
  • ​Something is done to the patient. This is an action which brings about death.
• Passive
  
  • ​There is an omission which brings about death.

Question 4

What are the arguments around euthanasia?

Answer 4

• People should be allowed to self determine.
• The most compassionate action may be to kill someone rather than let them suffer.
  
  • Underpinned by the principle that some suffering can be worse than death.
• That legislation will lead to multiple unintended consequences.
  
  • This is called the slippery slope argument.
  • If things change, what this change will lead to is unknown.
  • If there is legislation about one aspect of euthanasia, all of a sudden we may start removing all the fences which protect the sanctity of life.

Question 5

What is the sanctity of life?

Answer 5

The sanctity of life is a principle of implied protection regarding aspects of sentient life that are said to be holy, sacred, or otherwise of such value that they are not to be violated.

Question 6

Define futility.

Answer 6

• An action, intervention, or procedure that might be physiologically effective in a given case, but cannot benefit the patient, no matter how often it is repeated.
• A futile treatment is not necessarily ineffective, but it is worthless, either because the medical action itself is futile (no matter what the patient’s condition) or the condition of the patient makes it futile.
• Life can be prolonged, but not wellness restored.

Question 7

Apply the principles of medical ethics to withdrawal or withholding of medical treatment.

Answer 7

Question 8

How are withdrawal and witholding described in ethics literature?

Answer 8

• ‘Passive euthanasia’ is often used in the ethics literature to describe withdrawal and witholding of medication.
• This is death by deliberate omission, not failure to save.