Euthanasia Flashcards
What is the sanctity of life?
human life is sacred/precious/worthy of special respect
What are the religious reasons for why human life is sacred?
- imago dei
- spreading the word of God
giftfrom God/created by God - natural law - life has intrinsic value
- “your body is a temple of the holy spirit”
What are the secular reasons for why human life is sacred?
- humans potential is unknown
- makes us happy
- every human being is unique
- you only get one life
- life has meaning/purpose
Strong sanctity of life
human life is absolutely sacred and can never be ended
Weak sanctity of life
human life is sacred, however certain circumstances
Personhood
having the attributes (characteristics) that give a life value
Quality of life
a person who is living their life with happiness and well being. someone who have access to happiness and success
What does Fletcher say about quality of life?
‘we need to educate people to the idea that the quality of life is more important than mere length of life.’
What does natural law believe about euthanasia?
- one of the primary precepts is the preservation of life so euthanasia is bad as it goes against this
- telos - is you end a life early that person loses that telos that God gave them so they haven’t reached their full potential of being happy
- doctrine of double effect - your ending their suffering which is good but the bad consequence is that they have to die
Weaknesses of natural law when applied to euthanasia
- preservation of life can cause and prolong pain in the patients life
- it is a christian moral theory so is irreliavent to non-christians
- disregards quality of life
- undermines human dignity
Strengths of natural law when applied to euthanasia?
- upholds Christian moral values
- supports sanctity of life - values and protects human life
- absolutist - provides clear guidelines, avoids dangers of subjective opinions in matters of life and death
What would Bentham say about euthanasia?
- his hedonic calculus would support euthanasia because every part of it effectively works when discusing this issue
- as long as the act brings about the greatest happiness for the greatest number
What would Mill say about euthanasia?
- weak rule would support euthanasia because utilitarian rules can be broken if the situation dictates
- freedom is the key to happiness
What would Singer say about euthanasia?
- would support it because he wants no unnessesary suffering and euthanasia would end this suffering
Autonomy
having the ability and freedom to make decisions about your own life
Voluntary euthanasia
causing another person’s death at their own request
Non-voluntary euthanasia
bringing about the death of another person who is not capable of expressing their wishes
What is the slippery slope argument?
the fer that if something is legalised for one reason it may eventually become accpeted for other reasons, or if something is allowed for rare causes it may eventually become commonplace
how can the slippery slope argument be applied to euthanasia?
- if it were made legal, the practice of killing patients would become more habitual, which would not be morally good
- the criteria for whether a patient should be killed ot saved might change
What is the clinic called in Switzerland that performs euthanasia?
Dignitas Clinic
Active euthanasia
one person directly kills another
Passive euthanasia
somebody deliberately allows another to die when they could keep them alive
What is personhood to Singer?
‘…a rational and self-conscious being…’
Strengths of situation ethics aplied to euthanasia
- the four working principles combine to offer a system which is principled, but not rule-bound
- puts motives for actions alongside consequences
- the theory focuses on individual conscience, patient welfare and the right to decide
