Euthanasia Flashcards
what is voluntary euthanasia?
ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death
what is involuntary euthanasia?
ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask e.g switching off a life support machine, removing a feeding tube, do not resuscitate
what is active euthanasia?
the painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease. Usually a doctor might administer the drug rather than the patient. Intention is to kill the patient.
what is passive euthanasia?
when medical treatment is withdrawn or when treatment is refused and the person is allowed to die
what are extraordinary means?
when doctors use excessive means of treatment, (medicines/operations) that bring no reasonable hope or benefit.
what is assisted suicide?
providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide. The intention is to end the life of the patient.
What does Singer claim that we must be in order to be ‘persons’ and to deserve moral consideration?
beings must be self-aware, and capable of perceiving themselves as individuals through time
What is a characteristic of personhood - Singer and fletcher?
the ability to use reason
What is a characteristic of personhood ?
The ability to make moral decisions
What is a characteristic of personhood - Tooley and Singer 1?
the ability to have self awareness
What is a characteristic of personhood - Tooley and SInger 2?
The ability to imagine and desire a future existence
What is a characteristic of personhood - Singer 1?
to have preferences such as to not feel pain
What is a characteristic of personhood - Singer 2?
The belief that we do not have a soul
What does Singer believe belief in God is?
‘medieval’
What are the problems of the characteristics of personhood?
○ We cannot assume preference, moreover they can change over time
○ There could be a soul - evidence of NDE’s and past lives
○ People can use reason differently
○ Impossible to accurately predict your own future existence and quality of life
What did Mill say that supports euthanasia?
“Over himself, over his body and mind the individual is sovereign.”
What did Jack Kervorkian say that supports euthanasia?
“In my view the highest principle in medial ethics is self determination”
What are QUALYS
Quality Adjusted Life Years Schedule - used to determine where costs can be used most effectively in hospitals eg curing a child with cancer over putting a dying 50 year old on life support
What is Yale Kamisar’s objection to euthanasia?
Parade of horrors - slippery slope
What are the weaknesses of euthanasia? (5)
- hard to use reason when suffering
- burdens doctors who have taken hippocratic oath to do no harm
-family members have preferences for loved ones to not die
-hospices care for people’s quality of life - slippery slope
What is a weak weakness of using hospices?
Singer argues that hospice care is only available for a very small number of patients and therefore euthanasia should be available if quality of life is very poor.
What quotes imply sanctity of life?
- made ‘in God’s image’
- “The body is the temple of the Holy spirit…”
- God commanded “Do not kill.”
- “I knit you in your mother’s womb”
- “if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord…”
Why does NML support sanctity of life?
there is a Natural right to life because life has been designed by God for a purpose (telos) Aquinas. Common human nature indicates that the body lives and therefore our purpose is to live and not to die.
Why do Christians argue that life is sacred? (2)
- Suffering can connect us to the suffering of Jesus. It provides the chance of growing closer to God.
- Jesus set such an example - Jesus healed the sick he did not kill them.
What are the weaknesses of sanctity of life arguments against euthanasia?
- No God so life is not sacred (singer - ‘medieval’, russel’ - ‘brute fact’
- psychologists argue we have no soul, but are made up of influences eg psychological (Freud) and social (Mackie)
- CHN is flawed - naturalistic fallace, Kung and Nielson
- if life is sacred why would a loving god allow suffering?
Why do some Christians believe that sanctity of life is less important than some other Christian concepts?
- ‘Love your neighbour’ can be used both for and against euthanasia. May be the lesser of 2 evils
- Fletcher - relativism
Case study - Tony Nicklinson
- paralysed from stroke - ‘locked in syndrome’
- had to tolerate so many indignities daily - said he didn’t enjoy any aspect of life
- was determined to die - by starvation if need be - however he wanted a pain free death which would be attainable through the high court
Case study - Peter Smedley
- Motor neurone disease which deteriorated to a point where he wanted to die
- wanted to die with dignity, not having a ‘beastly’ death from MN
- was in contact with dignitas, and was eventually euthanised in Switzerland. It was ‘a wonderful release’
Case study - Charlie Guard
- rare genetic condition
- parents blocked by UK from taking him to the USA for special experimental treatment
- experts said the treatment would only prolong their suffering so he should be allowed to die with dignity
Case study - Terry Schiavo
- in irreversible PVS
- husband argued that Terry would not have wanted prolonged artificial life support without the prospect of recovery and wanted her feeding tube removed
- parents disputed her husband’s assertions and challenged Schiavo’s medical diagnosis, arguing in favor of continuing artificial nutrition and hydration.
- there was a seven year delay before her feeding tube was finally removed
Case study - Andrew Colgan
- worsening multiple sclerosis
- attempted suicide twice, but wanted a painless death so applied to Dignitas
- his mother said it was selfish to make him carry on living as she couldn’t bear to think of him suffering, and his quality of life was not acceptable
What was Rachels’ rejection of the difference argument?
Rejected difference between act (lethal injection) and an omission (failure to continue treatment).
- Smith and Jones - drowning vs letting die from drowning
- there is no moral difference between killing and letting die
Arguments for passive euthanasia (5)
- person will not recover from PVS
- intention is not to kill but let die
- poor quality of life
- family can make decisions
- end suffering
Arguments against passive euthanasia (6)
- would discourage the search for new treatments and cures for the terminally ill
- too much trust in patient’s hands
- hospices are available for patients who need life support
- traumatic for family
- no moral difference between passive and active (Rachels)
- sanctity of life
