Euthanasia Flashcards
Sanctity of life
Religious belief that humans are made in the image of god so it is morally wrong to take life
two examples of biblical texts that support the sanctity of life
Exodus - You shall not murder
Genesis - So god created mankind in his own image
Voluntary euthanasia
When a persons life is ended at their request
Non-Voluntary euthanasia
When a persons life is ended without their consent but with the consent of a representing interest, usually due to PVS
Why do christians reject euthanasia
Natural law and biblical teachings teach against it, Church also pronounced agaisnt it in 1980
Quality of life
Takes the view that life is valuable if it is worth living, must be autonomous, happy, free, limited pain. If these things aren’t present then euthanasia can be justified
What are Peter singers five quality of life commandments
- Worth of human life varies
- Take responsibility for our decisions about our own lives
- Respect another persons desire to live or die
- Only bring wanted children into the world
- Discrimination on species is wrong
Reasons why sanctity of life remains useful
- upholds intrinsic value of life
- ensures basic right to life is respected
- Euthanasia raises idea of a slippery slope, mildest forms of euthanasia may start descent into pressure being put on elderly to euthanise
—–> Abortion is evidence of this
Reasons why the sanctity of life is no longer useful
- Religious concept that has no place in an increasingly secular society
- peoples autonomy in cases of voluntary euthanasia should be respected
- Leads to people diving in horrible pain not treating humans with dignity and respect
- Medical advancements mean we now know when a life is worth trying to save or when it isnt.
why would natural law prohibit euthanasia
Preserve innocent life is a primary precept to prohibiting euthanasia would be a secondary precept
How is euthanasia an apparent good
May seem good to let someone die to relieve pain, but the real good would have been allowing life to continue on its natural god given course
In what two ways can natural law allow for euthanasia to happen
- Double effect as if a doctor gives strong doses of pain relief to a patient, the intent is to relieve pain which is good but their may be negative side effects of the patient dying
- Catchetism of the catholic church states that discontinuing extraordinary treatment can be allowed, stopping life support
Explain the case of Dr David Moor
Was cleared of murder of an 85yr old as he administered high does of pain relief to try and relieve pain but this accidentally ended up killing the patient that would have died soon anyway
How do proportionalists go further with double effect
they argue natural laws precepts can be broken if there is a significant proportionate reason to, a case where biological life continues but there is no personhood then euthanasia is acceptable
Reasons why Natural Law provides a good approach to euthanasia
- committed to sanctity of life so avoids slippery slope of value of human lives
- Prevents individuals making decisions about the lives of others which is too much power
- Double effect provides some flexibility on the matter
Reasons why Natural Law provides a poor approach to euthanasia
- Overly religious and christian approach to euthanasia
- insists on a legalistic absolutist approach when every euthanasia issue is different
- Requires individuals to live in extreme pain
- relies on god, if he isnt real then sanctity of life argument is pointless
- doesn’t place any focus on the autonomy of the individual involved
- Double effect is essentially euthanasia by default so NL is flawed
Who was a keen supporter of euthanasia
Joseph Fletcher
What does Fletcher say about sanctity of life
Sanctity of life in do not kill would be a Sophia, however in kairos love may demand it to be broken
Why does situation ethics value quality of life more
Autonomy is important as personalism is a four working principle, so keeping people and their own desires and welfare central is more important
How is Fletcher’s approach to euthanasia pragmatic and relativist
Decision on euthanasia depends on each situation and what should be done is whatever is the most loving in that situation
Reasons why situation ethics is helpful for euthanasia
- Flexibility is useful for varying euthanasia situations
- Agape is a very good moral principle
- Modern technology means we better know when people aren’t worth treating
- Respects personalism and autonomy recognising patients views as most important
Reasons why situation ethics isn’t helpful for euthanasia
- Very vague as the most loving thing is unclear in practice
- Requires prediction of consequences which is hard in complex medical cases
- Lacks absolute boundaries so there is problem of slippery slope of pressuring into euthanasia
Case of Daniel James
Talented rugby player who was paralysed, he couldn’t adjust and tried to kill himself multiple times, parents assisted him in going to Switzerland to be euthanised as they respected his wish
Case of Hannah Jones
Hannah was 13 year old who had leukaemia and heart problems and had lived in and out of hospital her whole life. She decided she wanted to be euthanised with the threat of more transplants and operations
Principle of autonomy
Humans should be free to make decisions about their own future
What theory supports autonomy in being able to harm ourselves
Utilitarianism, especially preference
What is Glovers view about autonomy
External checks would be made ons someone’s state of mind when making the decision about euthanasia, diminished mental state isn’t autonomous
When does autonomy become more complicated
Non voluntary euthanasia
How can autonomy be respected in non voluntary cases
Patients can leave instructions about their wishes like a DNR, Living Wills.
What is the controversy of DNR
open to manipulation as in 2011 hospitals had been putting DNR notices on some patients who hadn’t consented
Reasons why people shouldn’t have autonomy over their own lives
- As soon as other people are given control over life of another in on voluntary with DNR it becomes open to manipulation which is extremely dangerous
- NL rejects autonomy ebbing most important issue in euthanasia’s as preserving gods innocent life
- God is the only one with control over life and death, bible doesn’t support
- Autonomy is difficult in times of stress as these people may not be making the decisions in their best interest
Reasons why people should have autonomy over their own life
- Religious views that reject autonomy are outdated and not held by majority of the population
- SE supports personalism allowing people to make their own decisions
Active euthanasia
Lethal injection or turning off life support
Passive euthanasia
Withdrawing medical treatment when it is clear a patient will not recover
Who suggests that distinguishing between passaic and active euthanasia isn’t helpful
James Rachels
What is Rachel’s case 1 in his thought experiment
Smith is a legal guardian for his nephew and is set to inherit a lot if his nephew dies before his 18th, smith drowns his nephew and makes it look like an accident. This is an act
What is Rachels case 2 in his thought experiment
Jones is in the same situation as smith but doesn’t want to intentionally harm him. He sees his nephew slip and fall in the bath so he is drowning, he doesn’t help him, this is an omission
How does Rachel’s use his argument
Argues that both active and passive euthanasia are both as cruel as an act is bad but an omission may take longer for a patient to die so may be even crueler
Tony Bland
He was passively euthanised by removing his feeding tube which killed him 10 days later
What does singer argue about acts and omissions
An omission is still in essence an action
What would NL say about acts and omissions
may allow any depending mainly on the intention of the agent
What would SE say about acts and omissions
Doesn’t draw significantly on distinguishing them as just focuses on relieving pain for the patient in the circumstance to have the most loving consequence
Reasons why there is a big difference between acts and omissions
- For NL thinkers actions leading to death are wrong
- Issue of moral agency as some doctors would essentially become executioners with active euthanasia, conflicting with the Hippocratic oath
Reasons why there isn’t a big difference between acts and omissions
- SE challenges the distinction, Only Agape consequences matter act and omission are irrelevant
- Reducing pain and suffering is the main aim of euthanasia so whichever method does that
- Withdrawal of treatment is a lengthy process which may be unnecessary when active achieves the same result but is more efficient
- Double effect is difficult concept in the real world
