Euthanasia

Question 1

Down syndrome quote:

Answer 1

‘No reason to feel guilty about putting a downs syndrome baby away’ because ‘a Down’s is not a person’.
Joseph Fletcher.

Question 2

Euthanasia definition:

Answer 2

Greek, ‘eu’ meaning easy and ‘thanatos’ meaning death.
Easy death.
Either voluntary or non-voluntary if they are in a coma or PVS (Persistent vegetative state).
Active euthanasia (lethal injection) illegal in UK.
Passive- non-treatment decision (legal in UK, do not have to have chemotherapy).

Question 3

Passive euthanasia:

Answer 3

James Rachels argues that this is worse and cruel, process of dying extended.
Eg, someone starving themselves.

Question 4

Acts and _____ debate:

Answer 4

An act is illegal, like trying to drown someone, yet if you see someone drowning and don’t help that is not illegal.

Question 5

Examples of Acts and Omissions debate:

Answer 5

Peter Singer uses drowning child example, people don’t want to be late for work or ruin their shoes.
Also a real life example, a child named Wang Yue hit by a car, bleeding to death but people kept walking past.

Question 6

What argument does James Rachels bring up?

Answer 6

Argument from proportionality- death is much more painless and quick than a drawn out death.

Question 7

Themes for euthanasia:

Answer 7

• Personhood.
• Sanctity of Life.
• Quality of Life.

Question 8

What is personhood?

Answer 8

What makes a living thing a ‘person’?

Question 9

Arguments FOR a personhood:

Answer 9

When someone dies, we say their body is there and automatically presume they’re dead.

Question 10

Personhood and PVS:

Answer 10

Some argue they are still human, but not a person making euthanasia a logical explanation.
But is this quite a ‘slippery slope’ argument?? Where do we draw the line??

Question 11

Who thinks personhood is important???

Answer 11

Grisez and Boyle stress the importance of personhood, disagree that one can be alive and no longer be a person. Humanity and personhood are intrinsically interlinked.

Question 12

What is the sanctity of life?

Answer 12

The belief that life is special, sacred and holy and has an intrinsic worth.
- All life is sacred.

Question 13

Christian examples of the sanctity of life:

Answer 13

Genesis, ‘So God created mankind in his own image’ (imago dei).
We are all made with the ‘spark of divinity’.

Question 14

Different types of sanctity of life:

Answer 14

Strong sanctity of life.
Weak sanctity of life.

Question 15

Strong sanctity of life:

Answer 15

• Vitalism.
• ALL life is sacred.
• No extreme situations can justify the termination of human life.

Question 16

Weak sanctity of life:

Answer 16

• Euthanasia out of love is NOT murder.
• Nobody deserves to live a life submerged in pain.

Question 17

Quality of life:

Answer 17

• How much fulfilment someone is getting out of their current state of life.
• We all deserve to live and die in a dignified way.

Question 18

Quality of life example:

Answer 18

Alkmaar case.
Netherlands 1984, 95 year old woman could no longer eat or sleep, asked to be killed. Doctor killed him and said it was his duty in court.
This case made euthanasia legal in the Netherlands

Question 19

Who advocates for quality of life?

Answer 19

Peter Singer.

Question 20

Critique of quality of life argument?

Answer 20

• Stephen Hawkins.
• Nick Vujicic.

Question 21

Quality of life example 2:

Answer 21

Robert Latimer.
Daughter had cerebral palsy, in constant pain and could not have pain killers as this would cause dangerous seizures.
Put his daughter in the boot of his car and she died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sentenced to life imprisonment, but another trial sentenced him to two years.

Question 22

Diane Pretty:

Answer 22

• Motor Neurone Disease.
• Denied the right to die, ‘the law has taken all my rights away’.

Question 23

Tony Nicklinson:

Answer 23

Had a stroke leaving him paralysed, campaigned for the right to die.
Refused food and water and later died.

Question 24

What do Christians believe exists to ensure euthanasia should not happen?

Answer 24

Palliative care.
End of life care, makes you as comfortable as possible.
With a holistic approach, spiritual support for you and your family.

Question 25

What is the slippery slope argument?

Answer 25

• What people fear will happen if euthanasia is legalised.
• Value of human life will decrease based on money and personal convenience.

But would this really happen??
Helga Kuhse says that the Netherlands are not like Nazi Germany.
(Utilitarian bioethicist).

Question 26

FOR euthanasia:

Answer 26

To respect life is not to prolong it (Daniel Maguire). If God alone is deciding when we live and die, surely we are just disposable to God and not free. Deciding death should not impede God’s wishes if we are ‘free agents’.

Jonathon Glover- to deny someone euthanasia is ‘a very serious denial over the person’s autonomy’.

Question 27

Biblical example of quality of life:

Answer 27

Bartimaeus, the blind man. God cures his blindness. But is this saying that he is better to be ‘cured’??? Whether this can be used to justify or disagree with euthanasia is ambiguous.

Question 28

What ethical theories can be used?

Answer 28

Natural Law.
Situation Ethics.

Question 29

Does euthanasia agree with ordered society (primary precept of natural law)?

Answer 29

Yes and no.
Allowing it would end the campaigns.
But then allowing it could also lead to the slippery slope argument??

Question 30

FOR natural law:

Answer 30

Doctrine of double effect- would allow euthanasia as long as the intentions were to prevent pain.
- Painful treatment is surely using someone as a means to an end, to keep mortality rate low (as a doctor).
- Hippocratic oath- ‘refuse to treat those who are overmastered by their disease’.

Question 31

AGAINST Natural law:

Answer 31

• Preservation of life.
• Hippocratic oath says it is a doctors duty to preserve life.
• Ending one’s life ends the possibility of pursuing the other precepts.
• It is an apparent good, may alleviate pain but shortening the life prevents us reaching the END goal, telos. Perhaps we are predestined to reach a certain age=telos.
• Synderesis, do good and avoid evil. Ambiguous???
• Also tells us not very emotional, absolute rules. Surely it should depend on the situation? Some people in accidents not willing to continue life, some are.

Question 32

Dichotomy of the name ‘Natural Law’:

Answer 32

• Medicine and machinery in hospitals are not natural.
• Surely passive euthanasia is then what is natural.
  BUT it does argue for the importance of reason, doctors are using reason.
  But also the importance of reason can link into Fletcher’s ableist take on Down Syndrome.

Question 33

Natural Law and the Catholic Church:

Answer 33

• Catholic church argues that euthanasia is a ‘rejection of God’s sovereignty and loving plan’.
• BUT Pope makes a distinction between Ordinary and Extraordinary means.
• Ordinary treatment essential like food and water. But extraordinary means not essential, like surgery.

Question 34

Was Fletcher a supporter of euthanasia?

Answer 34

Served as president of the Euthanasia Society of America.
It is a matter of dignity.
Quality of life is more important than sanctity of life.
Sometimes there is a state where someone is no longer a person/ have personhood.

Question 35

Examples of how Fletcher defines a person:

Answer 35

Minimal intelligence, self-awareness, self-control.

But what about babies??