Euthanasia Flashcards
What is euthanasia
Means “gentle and easy death” in greek
Is the deliberate taking of someone’s life for compassionate reasons
What are the UK laws on euthanasia
The uk law states that it is illegal and can carry a life sentence
Assisted suicide cam carry a sentence of up to 14 years
What are the alternatives to euthanasia
Hospice
Refusing treatment
What is voluntary euthanasia
Euthanasia at the request of the person
What is non voluntary euthanasia
The person is unconscious or otherwise unable to make a meaningful choice between living and dying. Therefore, someone makes the decision on their behalf.
What is active euthanasia
person directly and deliberately causes someone’s death. E.g. giving an overdose of pain-killers or a lethal injection
What is involuntary euthanasia
The person is unconscious or otherwise unable to make a meaningful choice between living and dying. Therefore, someone makes the decision on their behalf.
What is passive euthanasia
A person does not directly take someone’s life - they just allow them to die. E.g. withdrawing/withholding treatment/food/water.
Give 3 secular arguments for euthanasia
A civilised society should allow people to die with dignity and without pain
A person has the right to control their life and therefore should be able to determine when and at what time they will die.
People should not have to live if they have no chance of getting better
Give three secular arguments against euthanasia
People could recover after being written off by doctors
Doctors break the law when they let someone die on purpose
The Hospice Movement provides support and care for the terminally ill and their families
