Euthanasia Flashcards

1
Q

Define euthanasia.

A

The active undertaking of any act which directly leads to the end of life for the sake of alleviating suffering.

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2
Q

List 2 components of euthanasia.

A

1 - Voluntariness.

2 - Activeness.

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3
Q

Describe the 3 forms of voluntariness.

A

1 - Voluntary (where a patient is competent and is asked).

2 - Involuntary (where a patient is competent but is not asked).

3 - Non-voluntary (where a patient is not competent and therefore cannot be asked).

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4
Q

Describe the 2 forms of activeness with regards to euthanasia.

A

1 - Active (doing an act of commission which leads to death).

2 - Passive (doing an act of omission which leads to death).

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5
Q

Define physician-assisted suicide.

A

The non-active undertaking of any act which provides the means for life to be ended.

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6
Q

Define assisted dying.

A

A more nebulous, politically palatable term for either euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.

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7
Q

What determines the legality of euthanasia in the UK?

A
  • Active euthanasia is illegal.

- Passive euthanasia is lawful if treatment is futile or it is accommodating a competent patient request.

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8
Q

What is the difference between motive and intention?

A
  • Motive is the driving force behind an act.

- Intention is the objective of the act.

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9
Q

How do motive and intention affect legality of euthanasia?

Why does this mean that active euthanasia is considered to be murder?

A
  • Motive plays no part in the law, whereas intention does.
  • The intention of euthanasia and murder are the same (to end life), so euthanasia is classed as murder despite having different motives (in euthanasia, the motive to alleviate suffering).
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10
Q

Describe the case of Dr Cox and Lillian Boyes.

A
  • Lillian boyes was an elderly patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis who was in severe pain and nearing the end of her life.
  • Dr Cox administered KCl to end her life prematurely.
  • Dr Cox was convicted of murder due to his intention to end her life.
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11
Q

List 3 reasons to justify DNACPR.

A

1 - A dying patient is at foreseeable risk of cardiac and respiratory arrest and CPR is not clinically appropriate.

2 - The risks and uncertainty of the outcome of CPR could outweigh potential benefits.

3 - A patient with capacity has expressed a wish not to be given CPR.

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12
Q

What is an advanced decision?

A

A written and witnessed document that enables someone with capacity to refuse a specified medical treatment for a time in the future when they lack capacity.

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13
Q

List 2 arguments for euthanasia.

A

1 - Autonomy.

2 - Compassion for reducing suffering.

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14
Q

List 4 arguments against euthanasia.

A

1 - Impact on the provider of euthanasia.

2 - Sanctity of life.

3 - Playing God.

4 - Potential to recover.

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