Euthanasia Flashcards
1
Q
Euthanasia
A
The act of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, by lethal injection (active euthanasia) or the suspension of extraordinary treatment (passive euthanasia)
2
Q
Dr Cox and Lilian Boyle
A
- Lilian was a patient with severe pain due to arthritis that will never heal
- She asks Dr Cox to end her life, however, euthanasia is illegal
- Dr Cox injected a drug into Lilian which caused her death
- He was charged with manslaughter, as it was ruled that Lilian’s death was not the intent of Cox’s acts
3
Q
Maleficence
A
To do Good
4
Q
Non-Malevolence
A
To do no harm
5
Q
UK laws on euthanasia
A
- All types of euthanasia are illegal in the UK
- However, withholding or withdrawing treatment is legal if it’s in the best interest of the patient
6
Q
Grisez and Boyle on The issue of personhood
A
- Grisez and Joseph Boyle stress importance on personhood, rejecting the view that one can cease to be a person and still be bodily alive.
- Do not accept PVS is not a person
- There are certain goods necessary for human well being
- They absolutely reject euthanasia
7
Q
Daniel Maguire on personhood
A
- Proportionalist
- Life is a basic but not an absolute good. No body should be obliged to prolong it in every situation
- Rejects that God alone has power over life and death
8
Q
Sanctity of life
A
- All life is sacred because it is made by God, and in the image of God
- Therefore, it should be protected at all costs
9
Q
Strong sanctity of life
A
- All life is sacred because it posses a God given soul
- No ordinary or extraordinary means justify terminating human life, from the moment of contraception to natural death.
- Also known as pro- life or vitalism
- Grisez and Boyle
10
Q
Weak Sanctity of life
A
- Killing an innocent person out of love is not murder, as murder implies ulterior motives
- In exceptional circumstances it is not wrong
- No one deserves to endure extreme pain; life is a gift not a burden.
11
Q
The Catholic Church on the sanctity of life
A
- Defines euthanasia as ‘an act or omission which of itself or by intention caused death, in order that all suffering in this way be eliminated’.
- To do this for one self is not allowed (Natural law- self preservation
- ‘Suffering has a specific place in God’s plan of salvation’
12
Q
Doctrine of double effect on euthanasia
A
- Pope Pius XII; drugs that easy pain but with a secondary effect of shortening life are permitted, as long as the intention is purely to ease pain.
13
Q
Peter Singer
A
- Believes society has moved away from the sanctity of life ethic and adopted a quality of life one.
- Increase in medical advances has led to a change in definition - brain ceasing to function now considered dead legally.
- Agrees with euthanasia, but believes there must be adequate safeguarding against abuse
14
Q
Quality of life argument
A
- Life is only worth living it it meets certain requirements that give it adequate quality
- If a life doesn’t meat these requirements, than euthanasia could be permitted.
