Euthanasia Flashcards
Sanctity of life - meaning
Traditional Christian view as God created life as a gift.
Evidence for Sanctity of life
Created in ‘God’s image’ (genesis)
10 commandments - thou shalt not kill
Our body is a ‘temple of the spirit’ - Corinthians (sacred)
Quality of life meaning
refers to how much pleasure or fulfilment one can get out of life. Balance of happiness over suffering.
Quality of life - evidence
Peter Singer - sanctity of life is based on outdated Christian views and thus should be re-evaluated.
Personhood needs rationality and self-consciousness. Do you deserve life if not?
Figure that supports slippery slope (Holland case study)
Holland - euthanasia was legalised for the terminally ill and then 10 years later was legalised for babies with illness.
2022 Canada case study euthanasia
2 people with medical conditions applied for euthanasia as they did not have sufficient financial support. One said they applied due to ‘abject poverty’ - example of bad quality of life.
Alfie Evans
Involuntary euthanasia - religious parents wanted medical treatment to continue for child but High Court ruled that doctors should decide (they decided to terminate treatment).
Daniel James
Promising rugby player - chose to travel to Switzerland to be euthanised after rugby accident that made him paralysed. He was 23 years old. Youngest British person to travel.
Applying Natural Law
Follow bible teachings (divine law) and natural law to say that Euthanasia violates primary precepts. If we stop believing life is sacred, we reduce the value society places on life.
Doctrine of double effect on euthanasia
If the intention is not kill, then medical non-intervention is okay. Therefore passive euthanasia can be justified through the doctrine of double effect.
What does the catholic catechism say about euthanasia?
‘Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous… can be legitimate.’
Situational Ethics applied to euthanasia.
Rejection of legalism in Bible - according to Fletcher the bible is an ‘editorial collection of scattered sayings’. He rejects sanctity of life principle. Euthanasia can be morally good in situations which maximise agape.
