Euthanasia

Question 1

Sanctity of life

Answer 1

• the idea that life is intrinsically sacred, it should always be protected and is a gift from God
• sanctity of life principles goes against euthanasia as no-one but God can take away sacred life
• sometimes taking life can be lesser of two evils e.g. self-defense

religious origins:
- men and women are created in God’s image
- human beings uniquely above all other creatures that God made
- concept of life is sacred

Question 2

Quality of life

Answer 2

• a way of weighing the extrinsic experience of life, that affects or justifies whether or not it is worth continuing life
• human life has to possess certain attributes to be valuable (personhood, autonomy)
• people in deteriorating conditions (terminally ill) may not have a good quality of life
• death can sometimes be judged better then life
• humans should be allowed live and die with dignity
• a life on intolerable pain adds nothing

secular origins:
- “it were better to die once and for all then to drag out my lingering days in anguish” -an Ancient Greek play
- “refuse to treat those who are overmastered by their disease realising that in such cases, medicine is powerless” -Hippocrates

Question 3

Personhood

Answer 3

• the extent that life holds quality links to the extent that there is personhood
• if a body is living but most high functions are gone, is it a person?
• once self-awareness is lost they are no longer a person. If self-awareness defines being a person, are babies people?
• is it wrong to keep alive a body that will never function again?

Question 4

Autonomy and the right to die

Answer 4

• idea that human freedom should extend to decide the time and manner of death
• Mill argues, in cases that don’t concern others, a person should have full autonomy
• we have control over our bodies in matter of life, we should have control over our bodies in matter of death
• the ‘right to die’ could lead to people feeling like a burden on those who loom after them
• can you morally oblige health professionals to administer euthanising drugs

Question 5

Voluntary euthanasia

Answer 5

• a persons life is ended painlessly by a third party at their own request
• John Glover suggests three considerations: decision must be serious and thought through, decision must be reasonable, circumstances of request should be considered
• some advocates are concerned for repercussions that occur for people that aid the seeking of suicide

Reasons not to permit:
- allowing voluntary euthanasia can lead to involuntary euthanasia
- could discourage people from seeking alternative treatment
- would detrimentally affect end of life palliative care

Question 6

Non-voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 6

• applies when a person is unable to express their wish to die but their a reasonable grounds for ending their life painlessly
• non-voluntary and involuntary are different
• removal of burdensome, extraordinary treatment permitted in UK. Liverpool care pathway for dying patients included palliative care facility for end of life patients, patients casually assessed as terminal, heavily sedated and denied water. Glover created 5 options: take all possible actions to preserve life, take all ordinary steps, not kill but take no steps to preserve life, act in way that doesn’t intend to kill but has death as foreseen additional effect, perform deliberate act of killing

Question 7

Application of Natural Law to euthanasia

Answer 7

• in catholicism euthanasia is never permitted, goes against sanctity of life principle
• one of primary precepts is to preserve life
• natural law upholds sanctity of life principle
• taking someones life goes against God’s love for that person
• Catholic Church says euthanasia is wrong
• taking life through euthanasia contradicts divine law
• euthanasia is an apparent good that seems to relieve pain and suffering
• undermines many primary precepts
• refusal of extra-ordinary measures permitted
• palliative care allowed under doctrine of double effect, aims to help person and lack of extra-ordinary measures cause death

Question 8

Application of Situation Ethics to euthanasia

Answer 8

• allowed as long as its the action the promotes the most amount of love in any situation
• Fletcher was president of euthanasia society
• Fletcher thought euthanasia was death control
• give people autonomy over their lives, patient autonomy is important aspect of patient care
• persons quality of life is always top priority
• person needs to have minimal intelligence, self-control, a sense of time and concern for others

Question 9

Strengths of euthanasia

Answer 9

• gives control over all our lives
• means medical resources can be used on people who want to live
• people can die with dignity
• means people don’t feel like a burden on their family
• stops people having to take their own lives

Question 10

Weaknesses of euthanasia

Answer 10

• patient may not be in right mind-set to make the decision
• compromises doctors ethics (hippocratic oath)
• life is a gift from God and should only be taken away by God