Euthanasia Flashcards
Euthanasia
A word linked to the Greek words for good (eu) and death (thanatos)
Sanctity of life
The idea that life is intrinsically sacred or has high worth and so cannot be violated
Quality of life
Weighing up the extrinsic experiences of life to determine whether life is worth continuing.
Personhood
The quality of human life that makes it worthy
Voluntary Euthanasia
A person’s life is ended painlessly by a third party at their own request.
Involuntary Euthanasia
person is killed against their wishes e.g. Nazis killing.
Non-voluntary Euthanasia
A person is unable to express their wish to die but there are reasonable grounds for ending their life
painlessly
Passive euthanasia
When someone deliberately withholds or withdraws medication, which would help a patient to live longer (thus resulting in the patient’s death taking place sooner)
Active euthanasia
Deliberate action performed by a third party to kill someone
PVS
Persistent Vegetative State – a patient has severe brain damage often considered irreversible.
Palliative Care
The use of drugs and medicine to relieve pain and improve quality of life but without directly causing the death of a patient
Dignity
The worth or quality of life, which be linked to sanctity or freedom
Living Will
Specific directives set out by a patient prior to a course of treatment about what they want to happen to them
