Physician Assisted Suicide Flashcards
Define euthanasia
The deliberate taking of another person’s life to relieve their suffering
Define assisted suicide
The situation where a competent person ends their own life but with the assistance of another person to perform the act, for example by providing the means to do so
What is an advanced decision
Document which details treatment refusal where it would not be possible to communicate wishes
What two things must be detailed in an advanced decision
The treatments being refused must be named in the advance decision
The situations in which the treatment would or wouldn’t be acceptable must be named
What is an advanced statement
Explains wishes by talking or writing about them to anyone involved in your care or family
What forms of assisted dying are there
Voluntary - Action of individual brings about death Non-voluntary - Action of another brings about death Involuntary - Action of another brings about death
Define voluntary assisted dying
Carried out at the request of the individual
e.g. Refusal of medical treatment by a mentally competent adult
Define non-voluntary assisted dying
The person is unable to express an opinion on the matter
e.g. Decision to withhold/withdraw medical treatment
Define involuntary assisted dying
The person is competent to make a decision but has not been asked or their choice has been ignored
e.g. Decision to withhold/withdraw medical treatment
Is euthanasia legal in the UK
No
Arguments against euthanasia/physician assisted suicide
Religious Argument - Sanctity of life Slippery slope argument - Unintended consequences Medical ethics argument - Violation of international code of medical ethics Alternative argument - No reason for any person to ever feel they are suffering intolerably with good care
Arguments for euthanasia/physician assisted suicide
Ethical argument
- Individual freedom of choice as long as they do not abuse another’s rights
Pragmatic argument
- Euthanasia, particularly passive euthanasia allegedly already a widespread practice
