Euthanasia - Content Flashcards
What is the ‘sanctity of life’ view?
The sanctity of life view claims that because God created human life, only God has the right to end it. Humans were created in God’s image, further suggesting that human life is especially valuable.
What is the ‘quality of life’?
Quality of life refers to how happy or unhappy a life is.
What is ‘autonomy’?
Autonomy is the freedom of people to make their own choices.
What is the basic view of situation ethics on euthanasia?
Love is the only intrinsic good, therefore euthanasia is only good or bad insofar as it is measured relative to the love it produces.
What is the basic view of natural law theory on euthanasia?
Euthanasia violates the inherent primary precept ‘Preserve life!’, therefore it is inherently wrong.
What is ‘active’ euthanasia?
Active euthanasia is when the person is killed by some positive action such as lethal injection, usually by a Doctor.
What is ‘passive’ euthanasia?
Passive euthanasia is when no one performs an action which results in the death of the person but they are left to die by natural means, either by the result of their illness if they have one or simply by removing life-support machine equipment or even stopping giving them food.
What is ‘voluntary’ euthanasia?
Voluntary euthanasia is when a person has the mental capacity to choose euthanasia.
What is ‘involuntary’ euthanasia?
Involuntary euthanasia is when someone does not have the mental capacity to choose euthanasia. If they are in a coma for example, or a persistant vegitative state, or a baby.
