key words Flashcards
Persistent vegetative state [PVS]
condition where patient w/ severe brain damage is in a state of very limited arousal rather than true awareness/consciousness - usually regarded as irreversible
Palliative care
use of drugs & medicine to relieve pain w/out killing patient
Vitalism
view that human life is always sacred because it possesses a God-given soul
Slippery slope
argument claiming if a rule is weakened - even for good reasons - then what eventually follows if rule is weakened will be highly undersirable
Eugenics - ‘the production of good offspring’
used to justify producing racially/intellectually ‘superior’ humans thru selective breeding & termination of ‘inferior’ humans
Strong sanctity of life principle
belief that human life is always valuable from conception to natural death; no exceptions, all human life shld be equally protected’
Ordinary and Extraordinary means
means which are obligatory [ordinary]& those which are additional [extraordinary]
Incarnation
christian teaching: God became human in form of Jesus Christ
Intrinsic value
something/someone is of independant value
Blasphemy
dishonouring God by setting oneself up to his equal/greater than he is
Weak sanctity of life principle
belief there may be situations where it’d cause more harm than good to continue life
quality of life principle
human life has to possess certain qualities to be valuable [i.e. exp of happiness, having autonomy, being conscious]
Liberal principle [as developed by Mill & others]
as humans are best judge of own happiness, should be given maximum freedom/liberty to live as consider appropriate
Paternalism - ‘act in a fatherly way’
justifies overiding a person’s autonomy if for their own good
Acts & omissions
distinguishes between willing to do ‘x’ [morally acceptable] and omitting/refraininf from doing ‘x’ [not morally acc. if ‘x’ was to be acting immorally]
QALY [quality adjusted life-year]
takes into account both quantity & quality of life generated by healthcare - calculation of life expectancy & measure of quality of rem. years
Empirical
gaining knowledge thru observation & exp rather than logic/theory
The dead donor rule
when thereˋs no brain activity & no body function
Personhood
quality/condition of being an indiviual person
Dignity
state/quality of being worthy of honour/respect
