Euthanasia Flashcards
Voluntary euthanasia
a person’s death is directly caused by another person with the person’s consent.
Non-voluntary euthanasia
a person’s death is directly caused by another person without the person’s consent.
Passive euthanasia
when life sustaining treatment is withdrawn thereby leading to death (‘letting nature take its course’)
Assisted suicide
a person dies asa direct result of their own voluntary action but with the help of another person.
Why was Jack Kevorkian so controversial?
He created a suicide machine whereby he helped people to end their lives.
What does Jack Kevorkian say about autonomy? (quote)
‘the highest principle in medical ethics…is personal autonomy’
Tony Nicklinson’s case
He suffered a stroke leaving him with locked in syndrome.
He lost his case when wanting to end hi life so he decided to starve himself.
What quote from Genesis influences ideas on the sanctity of life?
‘so God created mankind in his own image’
What is the story of Abraham and Isaac?
God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son.
When going to kill his son, God replaces him with a lamb.
Shows the value of human life and how God would never ask anyone to take the life of another.
Secular justification of the sanctity of life
John Mahoney: ‘the emergence of the human being even as a matter of chance…is a genuine case for wonder’
Dworkin: ‘…human life is intrinsically valuable, and worthy of a kind of awe, just because it is human life.’
What is quality of life?
How happy or unhappy a life is - a persons total wellbeing
What does Peter Singer believe about quality of life?
Singer believes that quality of life is an important factor for euthanasia.
He argues that we should revaluate Christian ethical precepts as they are no longer accepted.
He emphasizes autonomy for people to make their own decisions - if someone suffers then they should be able to die as their quality of life would not be good.
Who influenced Singer in his beliefs on autonomy?
Mill - utilitarianism
What is QUALY?
Quality adjusted life years
Measures pain, psychological health and mobility against the predicted number of years a person has left.
Why might quantifying the quality of a person’s life be problematic?
Giving medical professors the decision can be problematic as they may abuse their power eg. prioritize money over humanity.
Natural law: How can euthanasia be seen as an apparent good?
Ending someone’s life may appear to be a good way to end someone’s suffering yet the better thing may have been treating a patient in care eg. death in hospice.
Natural law: What did Dame Cicely Saunders believe about end of life care?
She was a nurse guided by her Christian faith who believed that there was a ‘time to live and a time to die’ hence she believed that dying patients should still receive care.
Natural law: What quote from the Catholic church suggests that natural law may allow for euthanasia in some circumstances?
‘Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate’
If treatment is dangerous then it is acceptable to stop it.
Natural law: How does the case of Dr David Moor show the doctrine of double effect?
Dr David Moor killed an ill patient by giving him a dose of morphine which was intended to relieve intense suffering.
The good outcome was treating the patient and the bad outcome was death - the good effect was what was intended.
Natural law: What do Grisez and Boyle believe about personhood?
Personhood applies to people who are both in a fit and vegetative state - this means that life is always valuable which rejects euthanasia.
Natural law: What does the term ‘proportionalism’ mean in relation to euthanasia?
There is often a proportional reason as to why the lesser of two evils should be taken and death then shortened - euthanasia may be the lesser of two evils in some circumstances.
Strengths of natural law for euthanasia?
It prevents life from being devalued (sanctity of life) - protects against the slippery slope.
It allows patients to refuse extraordinary treatment.
The doctrine of double effect allows doctors to administer certain pain relief.
The concept of personhood protects the most vulnerable (PVS).
Having absolutes allows there to be clear rules to follow and avoids misconception.
Weaknesses of natural law for euthanasia?
There is not much difference between omission and commission - James Rachel
Absolutist principles can be seen as being cruel.
Medicine is already ‘playing God’ by extending life beyond what is natural - inconsistent to say we should not help in terminal care.
Preserving life at all costs leads to a lack of dignity.
Situation ethics: What quote from Joseph Fletcher shows his emphasis on the importance of relativism and the quality of life?
‘It is harder to justify letting somebody die a slow and ugly death, dehumanizing than it is to justify helping him escape from such misery’
Situation ethics: How does positivism allow a Christian to reconcile their beliefs about the sanctity of life with the idea of euthanasia?
People would posit faith in God that euthanasia is the right thing to do.
Situation ethics: What does a relativist approach mean for euthanasia?
Life is to be valued but there are times where it is more loving to end it.
Situation ethics: How is personalism useful in cases of voluntary euthanasia?
Personalism is respect for someone’s personal autonomy allowing a person’s dignity to have priority.
Weaknesses of situation ethics for euthanasia?
Slippery slope argument - permissive approach.
Absolutes are what allows life to be always valued.
Teleological theory mean that the future has to be predicted.
Too individualistic - Fletcher was a product of a permissive society (non-restrictive).
Human nature is too self-interested - cannot make rational decisions.
