Ethics at the end of life Flashcards
BMA stance on euthanasia
they do not support euthanasia legalisation in the UK
Royal College of Physicians stance on euthanasia s
they maintain a neutral stance, therefore there is no overall majority that swing either in favour or against
what is palliative care
relieves the symptoms of a disease or condition without dealing with the underlying cause. (OED)
bases a lot around the holistic approach to medicine treating not only their physical but their psychological needs
Passive euthanasia
X allows Y to die. X withholds life prolonging treatment or withdraws life-prolonging treatment
Involuntary euthanasia
Death is against Y’s competent wishes, although X permits or imposes death for Y’s benefit
Non-voluntary euthanasia
Euthanasia when Y is not competent to express a preference
can’t say that they want it either way
what is euthanasia
Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering
R v Cox, 1992
rheumatoid arthritis
pain seemed beyond the reach of analgesics
was expected to die within days or weeks
asked doctor to kill her, he delivered a lethal dose of potassium chloride out of compassion
he was charged with attempted murder (due to the possibility she died of the disease)
was later found guilty of attempted murder
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland, 1993
Anthony bland was seriously hurt when crushed by overcrowding
attempts of resuscitation results in being permanently unconscious and with no prospect go regaining consciousness
after three years they applied to see whether ending his life would be ethical
this then went to the house of lords
The case of Daniel James
– Daniel (23 yrs old) was seriously injured in a rugby accident & paralysed
- He died at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland in 2008, accompanied by his parents
– Enough evidence existed to prosecute Daniel’s parents & a family friend
– DPP decided that it was not in the public interest to prosecute
The case of Diane Pretty
– Dianne Pretty suffered from motor neurone disease (progressive & degenerative terminal illness – person’s mental faculties remain sharp, while their body fails)
– Mrs Pretty’s husband was willing to help her commit suicide but the couple were anxious that he would be prosecuted (under Suicide Act, 1961)
– Mrs Pretty asked the DPP to give an undertaking that he would not consent to Mr Pretty’s prosecution
– She sought judicial review of his refusal
– She died 12 days after her appeal was rejected by the ECtHR
Euthanasia is allowed if:
IN SWITZERLAND
- Patient is incurably ill
- Patient is experiencing unbearable suffering
- Patient has requested his/her life be terminated
- Termination is performed by the patient’s own doctor
- Advance directives for euthanasia are allowed
- Children over the age of 12 can request euthanasia
- Euthanasia of severely disabled newborns is allowed
allows physician assisted suicide in Oregon
Death with Dignity Act 1994
What factors determine who gets the organs?
Compatibility, age, proximity to centre
