Ethics - Applied Ethics - Business and Medical Flashcards
The Catholic Church argues that we have the right to die with ____ but this does not means they agree with ____ __ ____ _____
dignity
euthanasia or assisted suicide
What does the Catholic Church believe about any action that brings life to an end?
Any deliberate action that brings life to an end is wrong
Pope John Paul II quote about euthanasia
‘I confirm that euthanasia is wrong as it breaks the law of God.’ Pope John Paul II
What does the Catholic Church see as an alternative to euthanasia and assisted suicide?
The Church sees ‘Palliative Care’ as alternative to euthanasia and assisted suicide.
In 1983, Singer caused controversy with the following comment on the Baby Doe abortion case in the USA:
‘If we compare a severely defective human infant with a non-human animal, a dog or a pig, for example, we will often find the non-human to have superior capabilities.’
In Rethinking Life and Death (1994) Singer sets out his five new rational quality of life commandments to replace those of the traditional sanctity of life position, what are these 5 commandments?
- Recognize that the worth of human life varies
- Take a responsibility for the consequences of your decision
- Respect a person’s desire to live or die
- Bring children into the world only if they are wanted
- Do not discriminate based on species
Definition of sanctity of life
Life belongs to God and is sacred, and so only God can give and take life
Sources for sanctity of life
The book of Genesis in the Old Testament, it says that God breathed life into out nostrils and created man in his own image (imago dei)
How can sanctity of life be applied to euthanasia?
The Catholic Church do not accept euthanasia as it goes against the sanctity of life, it is classed as blasphemy which is a direct action against God
Definition of quality of life
The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living, human life must possess certain attribute to be worthy
Sources of evidence for quality of life
Peter Singer, a humanist
How quality of life can be applied to euthanasia
Singer argues in favor of euthanasia using the quality-of-life argument, he says we must respect a person’s desire to live or die, decisions about life and death should not be taken on behalf of an ultimate reality with no proof that it exists
What are the two Philippe Mahoux quotes?
‘We must not allow people to be in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term.’
‘the ultimate gesture of humanity’
What is the slippery slope argument?
where do we draw the line? What illnesses do we allow euthanasia for?
Views of euthanasia for CC, Aquians, Singer, Fletcer, slipper slope, and why for each?
- Catholic Church – No – Sanctity of Life
- Aquinas – No – Natural Law
- Peter Singer – Yes – Quality of Life
- Joseph Fletcher – Yes – Situation Ethics
- Slipper Slope Argument – No – where does it stop?
St Thomas Aquinas’ vies on euthanasia, why this is, and how the double effect can be used?
Based on his ‘Natural Theory’ euthanasia is not acceptable
The primary and secondary commandments are clear:
‘defend innocent life’, ‘orderly society’, ‘worship God’, and ‘do not kill’
Double effect would allow extended pain relief but never any action that intentionally ended a life
Singer’s views on autonomy, and why he holds them?
Singer argues that euthanasia is permissible, and people do have autonomy over their lives
This autonomy extends to parents to young children who cannot make the conscious decision themselves
This is based on the quality of life principle
Fletcher’s views on autonomy, and why?
Fletchers argument would support the autonomy of the person
His principle of agape extends to euthanasia as the situation may call for euthanasia
His working principles can be used it justify ‘mercy killing’
The ‘end may justify the means’
Slipper slope views on euthanasia and why?
If the law permits euthanasia a dangerous precedent is set
A society that allows voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide may gradually accept non-voluntary
Pressure on people with disability and discourages care for the sick
Essentially, what does the hippocratic oath tell doctors to do?
protect and preserve
Define suicide
When a person dies as a direct result of their own voluntary action
Define assissted suicide
When a person dies as a direct result of their own voluntary action but with the help of another person
Define physician aided suicide
When a person dies as a direct result of their own voluntary action, with the help of a doctor or physician
Define physician aid in dying
When a person’s death is hastened but not directly caused by the aid (for example, medication) of a doctor or physician
Define voluntary euthanasia
When a person’s death is directly caused by another person (perhaps a doctor) at their request and with their consent
Define euthanasia
When a doctor withdraws life-sustaining treatment which indirectly causes death, the doctor allows a patient to die by ‘letting nature take its course’
Define non-voluntary euthanasia
When a person’s life is ended without their consent but with the consent of someone representing their interests
Moral issues of assisted suicide?
Someone could take advantage of the situation?
Moral issues of non-voluntary euthanasia?
They did not give consent
Finish the Fletcher quote, ‘In a few words, it is whether we can morally justify …
… taking it into our own hands, as human beings, to hasten death for ourselves (suicide) or for others (mercy killing) out of reasons of compassion. The answer in my view is clearly yes, on both sides of it. Indeed, to justify one, suicide or mercy killing, is to justify the other.’
How can pragmatism, from situation ethics, be applied to euthanasia?
o Each case must be judged according to its merits
o No intrinsic laws which prevent euthanasia
o For PVS with limited quality of life, the more compassionate thing is euthanasia
o Using limited resources to keep a terminally ill patient alive at all costs at the expense of their welfare is unjustifiable
How can relativism, from situation ethics, be applied to euthanasia?
o Killing innocent people cannot be an absolute wrong
o Each case must be judged according to love and compassion
o Sanctity of life could mean helping someone to die if they are in considerable pain
How can positivism, from situation ethics, be applied to euthanasia?
o No law states life must be preserved at all costs
o Laws and rules are made for humane treatment
o This might mean helping people to die if it’s the better course of action for them
How can personalism, from situation ethics, be applied to euthanasia?
o The principle of love acknowledges that a person’s life might cease to be instrumentally of value to them
o It also recognizes that their humanity if more significant than their mere biological existence