Euthanasia

Question 1

what is Euthanasia

Answer 1

Is the deliberate termination of an individual’s life (at that individual’s request), Or in medical practice the active and deliberate termination of a patients life, on that patients request, by a doctor.

Question 2

Active Euthanasia

Answer 2

done intentionally by giving a lethal injection or drinking a barbituate to end a terminal illness

Question 3

Passive Euthanasia

Answer 3

withdrawing treatment or switching off a life support machine and allowing a person to die

Question 4

voluntary euthanasia

Answer 4

carried out at the request of a fully informed person

Question 5

non- voluntary euthanasia

Answer 5

if a person is unable to give consent or to express their own wishes

Question 6

double effect

Answer 6

were the primary actions is to relieve pain by the secondary is death

Question 7

arguments for euthanasia

Answer 7

> Secular age, people don’t believe in god. Right to decide.
Your life! 1961 suicide act- not illegal. Humane
82% of UK agree V.E should be legal
We put dogs down, why not humans
Mary Warnock- those who have lost sense of dignity should be respected.
‘Nature has placed mankind under two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure and that alone should point out what we do’ Bentham
If god is love, you should show love to others.
No specific in Bible, V.E isn’t murder, ‘death is better than a miserable life and eternal rest then chronic sickness’
Pain relief at childbirth, but none at death- Albert Camus
Contraception is widely accepted in Cath. Laity, so too should V.E. both issues are concerned with life and death and right of individual to make own decisions – Pro Hans King
Honesty. Patients needs, could strengthen relationship
Holland- 3% of deaths are due to V.E
Backstreet abortions, suicide might get worse?
Each year 25,000 people in Holland ask to have life ended if life was intolerable, only 9,000 repeated, 3,000 had it
‘To say people are forced into V.E is like saying making love is rape’ Annie Lindsell
‘People in a vegitive state are not people’ Fletcher
Limited healthcare. 20% of people given extra-ordinary care have no chance of survival

Question 8

arguments against euthanasia

Answer 8

Christians believe life is a gift from god, stewardship.
>Effects others (doctors)
>Involves another person. Pressurize people.
>Majority does not always make you right (racism). Weak and Vulnerable need protecting
>Human created in the image of god. Modern palliative care.
>Dignity of human life is inherent. CofE- not just pleasure or pain but feeling that makes you human.
>Sharing in God’s pain, union with God, Fathers will.
>‘Undermines sense of unconditional love and value which compassion is grounded’ R.Williams
>‘You must not murder’
>Medicine should preserve life. Patients can decline care.
>No trust. Patients may fear doctors have other motives
>0.8% of deaths in Holland are due to non-voluntary.
>weak and vulnerable may feel obliged to kill them.
>Must uphold law
>25,000 asked- that’s a lot
>Could it pressure people into it?
>Sanctity of life
>Unjust? Shows lack of respect