Medical Ethics (Wilcockson)

Question 1

Name the different sections of Wilcockson’s Article.

Answer 1

1) Good or bad medical practice
a) Moral crisis in liberal societies?
b) 3 moral principles (acts and omissions, double effect, ordinary and extraordinary means)

2) Law and Morality
a) The liberal model
b) Legalising euthanasia
b) Objections

Question 2

What does a ‘third party’ refer to?

Answer 2

Someone else who is not the ‘principal agent’ (patient) and shouldbe a party of medical practices (like doctors)

Question 3

What does the BMA suggest?

Answer 3

There is a difference between actively killing a patient and leaving the patient to die.

Question 4

Singer believes there is a “transitional stage in ethics”. What is this shift?

Answer 4

From the traditional Sanctity of Life argument, to the ‘Quality of Life’ argument

Question 5

Why does Singer believe the SOL argument belongs to an older, more absolute view towards life?

Answer 5

The belief regarding life as a gift from God no longer fits into the nortms of how people think in society.

Question 6

What is the difference between an act and an omission?

Answer 6

• ACT: performed by an angel who actively intervenes to bring about a foreseeable outcome (e.g., active euthanasia)
• OMISSION: failure to act, but with an awareness of what the result of jnot active will be (e.g., passive euthanasia)

Question 7

What does Wilcockson argue overall regarding acts and omissions?

Answer 7

Failure to act dopes not absolve you from moral responsiblity (e.g., pacifist refusing to shoot someone was an active, moral decision)

Question 8

Describe the arguments on Wilcockson’s example regarding the doctor on the choice whether to save a premature baby or leaving it to die.

Answer 8

Some may argue that the doctor must withhold treatment (passive euthanasia). However, some many consider this not as “indirect killing” but as non-voluntary euthanasia instead.

Question 9

What is the doctrine of double effect?

Answer 9

Distinguishes foreseeing an outcome (death) and choosing to act specifically to bring that outcome.

Question 10

What are Wilcockson’s views regarding the doctrine of double effect?

Answer 10

He believes that the doctrine could heb easily open to abuse due to there being no real distinction between acting and foreseeing.

Question 11

What is the distinction between ordinary means and extraordinary means? (linking to proportionate and disproportionate)

Answer 11

• ORDINARY: not going through the extremes to sustain life (e.g., eating, drinking)
• EXTRAORDINARY: going through the extremes (e.g., life support machine)

Question 12

How can the weak sanctity of life argument be linked to medical ethics? (linking to ordinary and extraordinary means)

Answer 12

Even though death is inevitable, the doctors must be bound with compassion to treat their patients accordingly anyway.

Question 13

In Mill’s essay, he sets out an example on how he believes the law should not function in a liberal society. What principles does he impose regarding the law?

Answer 13

1) The law itself is not a moral guideline, and individuals should be allowed to have their own preferences
2) The law should protect the individual

Question 14

What are the two principles frequently sited regarding the issue of legalising euthanasia?

Answer 14

• Personal autonomy
• Quality of life argument
• (regulations set by other countries)

Question 15

What are the different regulations set by each country regarding euthanasia (Britain and the Netherlands)?

Answer 15

• Britain: personal autonomy permitted, but third-party involvement (family and doctors)
• Netherlands: patient should make request in a persistent way, and doctors should seek advice from other doctors

Question 16

What are the different regulations set by each country regarding euthanasia (USA, Australia)?

Answer 16

• USA: living wills and ‘proxy empowerment’ movement mean physician assisted suicide goes against pro-life movement
• Australia: no uniform law set, but doctor can discontinue life-support of patient by request

Question 17

Define what ‘the wedge argument’ is.

Answer 17

The concerns that legalised euthanasia would lead to other forms of killing becoming accepted and legal (i.e., voluntary –> involuntary)

Question 18

How does Helga Kushe challenge the view and use empirical evidence?

Answer 18

The argument can be used by scaremongers to support their complete ban on all forms of euthanasia (e.g., non-voluntary euthanasia practiced by the Nazis)