End of life source q's KU Flashcards
Describe what is meant by the sanctity of life. (5)
This overarching issue looks at the principle of the sanctity of life from a religious, philosophical, moral and medical point of view.
The sanctity of life is a religious doctrine that states that life is a gift from God, and should be regarded as sacred because all humans are made in God’s image.
This teaching can be traced from the book of Genesis; “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (1:27).
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image“ (9:6).
The strong version of the sanctity of life principles holds that there are no cases where it is acceptable to intentionally end a human life, for example in the Roman Catholic Church.
The weak version of the sanctity of life principle holds that while life is of supreme value, there may be cases where it is permissible to end a life, for example in the Church of Scotland.
Describe what is meant by end-of-life. (5)
‘End-of-life’ usually refers to the physical, social and spiritual care a person receives when they are approaching the end of their life.
This may be due to a terminal illness in which case they might be given hospice-type palliative care.
Palliative care aims to optimise quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering.
People in hospice care generally are expected to have less than 6 months to live. They’re often at home, where family members and professional caregivers look after them.
There is increasing demand in the UK to allow those suffering with terminal conditions to be able to make the choice to end their own life on their own terms, for example, the Assisted Dying Bill (2015).
Describe what is meant by end-of-life care: medical and social care. (5)
The ageing population has created significant issues in the debate about end-of-life care. Medical care refers to care for those at the end of their lives who have a life-shortening condition, whereas social care refers to those at the end of their life who have a long-term degenerative condition. Areas of focus include hospice-type palliative care, and care home approaches.
Medical care refers to care for those at the end of their lives who have a life-shortening condition.
Social care refers to those at the end of their life who have a long-term degenerative condition.
Palliative care aims to optimise quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering.
People in hospice care generally are expected to have less than 6 months to live. They’re often at home, where family members and professional caregivers look after them.
Improving end of life care is often seen as an alternative to euthanasia.
Describe what is meant by assisted dying. (5)
This covers UK law and the issues arising from assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide and assisted suicide from organisations like Dignitas or individuals offering the service.
Assisted dying refers to people who have a terminal illness who want to end their life.
Some people make the distinction between this and assisted suicide which is when a person without a terminal illness is aided in ending their life.
It is also distinct from physician assisted suicide where a medical professional helps a person end their life.
Prescribing life-ending drugs for terminally ill, mentally competent adults to administer themselves after meeting strict legal safeguards is legal and regulated in the USA states of California, Colorado and hawaii.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, under the Suicide Act (1961), assisting a suicide is a crime. Those convicted could face up to 14 years in prison.
