EUTHANASIA Flashcards
What is voluntary euthanasia?
When a person’s life is ended at their request or with their consent.
What is non-voluntary euthanasia?
When a person’s life is ended without their consent but with the consent of someone representing their interests.
What is active euthanasia?
When somebody does something to actually kill the person.
What is passive euthanasia?
When you allow someone to die by taking away something that they needed to live.
What is the opinion of the sanctity of life on euthanasia?
It is an absolutist approach to the issue of euthanasia as it considers human life as sacred.
Give a bible quote against euthanasia.
“imago dei” - “in the image of God.”
Give a biblical quote from Jesus for euthanasia.
“Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” - Jesus.
What is the problem of the Sanctity of Life approach?
It is absolutist and inflexible and does not take the situation into account.
What is the quality of life argument?
That life must have some benefits, some attributes for it to be worth living.
What kind of approach does the quality of life argument take?
Relativist.
What is one of the five quality of life commandments Peter Singer came up with?
Recognise that the worth of human life varies.
What is the concept of personhood?
If a person has lost many of their capabilities/ functions, the question is asked whether or not they can be considered to be a moral person of worth as much as someone who is healthy.
What would Peter Singer argue about personhood?
He would argue that not all humans are “persons.”
What is autonomy?
Being free to make our own decisions about our own future.
How does autonomy link to euthanasia?
Voluntary euthanasia respects the autonomy/ wishes of the patient.
Who was Diane Pretty? What was her story?
Suffered from motor neurone disease. She wanted her husband to help her commit suicide and took her case to court. She lost and died of natural causes in 2002 in a hospice.
Who was Tony Bland? What was his story?
After the Hillsborough tragedy, Tony was left in a PVS. His parents petitioned the court to sanction the withdrawal of hydration and artificial nutrition, which they did.
How does the Synderesis rule link to euthanasia? (NL)
In NL the end never justifies the means, so no amount of suffering can justify an ‘evil act’.
Which of the primary precepts links to euthanasia? (NL)
The act of taking a life goes against the primary precept - protect/ preserve life.
Ordered society - slippery slope.
How can the Doctrine of Double effect be applied to euthanasia? (NL)
Would allow palliative care even if it shortens life - intention of doctor is important here.
What is the problem with applying NL to euthanasia?
Rigid, absolutist stance does not take into account individual situations.
What type of approach does situation ethics take towards euthanasia?
Teleological. Looks at the consequences not the act itself - aiming to serve love best.
Which two of the four working principles apply to euthanasia? (SE)
Pragmatic = allowing us to do whatever works best in the circumstances. Personalism = puts people at the forefront of ethical decision making.
What is the problem with situation ethics being applied to euthanasia?
Slippery slope - people would take advantage of it even if they didn’t need or weren’t quite ready to die.
What is the slippery slope argument?
Pressure may be exerted on those who are vulnerable if euthanasia is legalised.
How can the slippery slope argument be debunked?
In the Netherlands, 48,000 end of life decisions were made in the period studied and only two cases were thought to occur.
What does the Sanctity of Life root from?
Imago Dei = humans created in the likeness of God.
What do some Protestant traditions (Cairns) believe about dignity?
The image and likeness of God that human beings had at creation was largely lost due to the sin of Adam and Eve (Cairns).
What did Hippocrates suggest a doctor should do in the quality of life argument?
‘refuse to treat those who are overmastered by their disease realising that in such cases, medicine is powerless.’
What is the idea of personhood?
Distinguish between human bodies which are still living despite the loss of defining features of humanity, and beings which should preserve because they retain such features.
What does J.S. Mill state about autonomy?
“Over himself, over his body and mind, the individual is sovereign.”
What does Glover state about suicide?
Notes that people who feel they are burdens on their families sometimes commit suicide.
What does the Catholic Church recognise? (NL)
That burdensome treatment should not be offered at the end of a person’s natural life.
What does the doctrine of double effect consider?
Palliative care as the principal purpose, as a secondary effect.
What does Fletcher emphasise?
The personal dimensions of morality in medical care and rejected natural law as an approach.
