Euthanasia Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is suicide?
The act of killing yourself
What is assisted suicide?
Don’t have to be terminally ill
What is voluntary euthanasia?
Allows doctors to administer the lethal drug to end one’s life
Where is assisted dying legal?
US states of Washington and Oregon
Where is assisted suicide legal in?
Switzerland (e.g. Dignitas clinic)
Where is voluntary euthanasia legal in?
Netherlands and Belgium
What did Jonathan Glover say about the difference between voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide?
‘It is the final act is performed by someone else BUT it is hard to see why it matters in principle who actually puts the pill in the mans mouth’
Nevertheless, he also argues that ‘If assisted suicide is possible, it always to be preferred to voluntary euthanasia… where the person does not perform the final act himself, there is always more room for doubt and the last minute might not take it’
In which year was the suicide act?
The suicide act of 1961
What did the suicide act of 1961 state?
Decriminalised the act of suicide. Still illegal to assist a person in taking their own life.
In 2006, who brought out the Assisted Dying Bill?
Lord Joffe made an attempt to legalise assisted dying between 2003-2006.
Who brought the case to the high court to seek further clarification of the law?
Debbie Purdy in 2009
Who allowed the Assisted Dying Bill to allow terminally ill to have an assisted death?
Lord Falconer
Who introduced the assisted Dying Bill based on Lord Falconer’s Bill in 2014?
Rob Marris the MP
When was the last time to debate about the Assisted Dying Bill?
2015
What stated in the Assisted Dying Bill?
- only terminally ill
- 2 doctors certify to end a persons life gives prescription to assist suicide
- patient firm and settled intention
Rob Marris say about the Assisted Dying Bill
“The Bill would provide more protection for the living and more choice for the dying”
Fiona Bruce say about the Assisted Dying Bill
” We are here to protect the most vulnerable in society”
AGAINST assisted dying bill
What is Assisted Dying?
Only applies to terminally ill, mentally competent adults and requires the dying patient, to self administer life ending medications.
Geoffrey Whaley case for Assisted suicide
British man,80 who died at Dignitas due to motor neurone disease. He said “ The law in the country robbed me of control over my death”
Diane Petty case for Assisted suicide
She had motor neurone disease and she wanted to control the time and manner of her death. The court rejected her right to die because “They said that the right to life did not include the right to die”. She took her case to the European Court of Human rights and argued that her right to life included to choose when she could die. But they said that the ban on assisted suicide was to protect society.
Tony Nicklinson for Assisted dying
Had a stroke in 2005 which caused to become paralysed and could only move his head and his eyed. He asked the High Court to state that it would be lawful for a doctor to help his end his life. If they refused, he wanted them to state that the current law was incompatible with his human rights.
Prof A.C. Grayling: Assisted Dying should be legalised
‘Against sanctity of life’
Only right to live if the quality of life is worthy.
Religious beliefs were preferred over scientific treatments and society has moved on.
What is autonomy?
Being in control of one’s own life and any decisions made.
Sanctity of life argument
Life is sacred and god-given.
Based on biblical ideas:
-Life is set apart of the God
- Innocent life is to be respected. Taking a life is simply killing. ‘Thou shalt not kill’.
- Life is always to be loved and protected.
