Euthanasia Flashcards
What does euthanasia mean?
A good death or the act of bringing about an easy and painless death
What is euthanasia seen as?
A release for those suffering from an incurable and/or a degenerative disease or for those in a persistent vegetative state
Which two Greek words does euthanasia come from?
Eu - meaning good
Thantos - meaning death
What is voluntary euthanasia?
Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death. The person has full knowledge and gives full consent
What is non-voluntary euthanasia?
Ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you believe it is in their best interest
What is assisted suicide?
Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide when they are unable to take their own life (eg - due to paralysis)
What is active euthanasia?
A direct act of doctor/other to end the life of an individual
Give 2 examples of active euthanasia
Lethal injection
Morphine overdose
What is passive euthanasia?
Treatment that would help a person live longer is withdrawn with the idea of ending their life
Give an example of passive euthanasia
Turning off a life support machine
When was the murder act brought in?
1965
When was the suicide act brought in?
1961
What does the suicide act state?
A person who aids,abets,counsels or procures the suicide of another is liable to imprisonment for upto 14 years
Where is euthanasia currently legal?
The Netherlands
Belgium - all ages
Luxembourg
Switzerland
What are the 4 main types euthanasia?
Voluntary
Non-voluntary
Active
Passive
Explain the Daniel James case study?
Daniel James was paralysed when a rugby scrum collapsed
He needed 24 hour care
He wanted to die as his quality of life was decreased and he didn’t want to live a 2nd class existent
Died on the 12th September 2008 by lethal injection in the dignitas clinic aged 23
Explain the Tony Bland (1989) case?
Left in a persistent vegetative state after the Hillsborough disasters
Doctors asked for his nutrition and hydration to be removed
Courts agreed
Why does the Daniel James case support euthanasia?
Quality of life - he believed his Q of L was reduced
Used his personal autonomy
Ended his suffering
Shortens family suffering
Explain the Belgian twins case
Identical twins seeking euthanasia
Born deaf but discovered they were going blind
Requested to die after being told they would never see each other again
Died by lethal injection on December the 14th
Why does the Belgian twins’ care not support euthanasia?
Decision affected their family not just them
Being death and blind doesn’t mean they couldn’t have a decent quality of life and live in a dignified manor
Blindness could be cured in the future
Slippery slope
