Unit 2 Module 3

Question 1

Current Issue

Answer 1

A problem that influences a considerable number of individuals within society. The issues are happening at the present time.

Question 2

Societal

Answer 2

Relating to society

Question 3

Religious

Answer 3

Relating to religion

Question 4

Euthanasia

Answer 4

The deliberate and intentional killing of a human being because of illness, age, disability, pain, weakness, or unhappiness.

Question 5

For

Answer 5

In support of or in favour

Question 6

Against

Answer 6

In opposition to

Question 7

Involvement

Answer 7

the fact or condition of participating in something

Question 8

Religion

Answer 8

the belief in and worship of a divine being/s, with a particular system of faith, worship, and practice. E.G Christianity

Question 9

Society

Answer 9

the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. E.G. Australia

Question 10

Features of Euthanasia

Answer 10

• Euthanasia: an act which by itself or by intention causes the death of a suffering person.
• It involves the deliberate taking of a person’s life.
• The life is taken typically because the person is suffering from an incurable or terminal disease.

Question 11

Three forms of Euthanasia

Answer 11

1. Voluntary Euthanasia: Is when a doctor (person A) administers a lethal injection on the request of a patient (person B)
2. Non-voluntary Euthanasia: Is when a doctor (person A) administers a lethal injection when the patient is unable to choose between life and death for themselves e.g. patient is an infant, seriously ill or handicapped (person B)
3. Involuntary Euthanasia: When it is performed on a person who would have been able to give or withhold consent but has not given consent – either because the person was not asked, or because he/she was asked but withheld consent. E.G., unconsented withholding of life-sustaining treatment.

Question 12

Active and Passive Euthanasia

Answer 12

• Active: Euthanasia is active if a person administers a lethal injection.
• Passive: Euthanasia is passive if a person withdraws or withholds life-sustaining treatment. All 3 forms of euthanasia can be active or passive

Question 13

Issue of Euthanasia

Answer 13

• Euthanasia is by its nature a controversial and complex issue.
• It is a bioethical issue: Bioethics is: the study of ethical problems arising from biological research and its applications in such areas such as genetic engineering and care of the terminally ill.
• Currently euthanasia is illegal in most countries around the world. However, the following have legalized the practice: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and the USA states of Oregon and Washington.
• Euthanasia is illegal in some states in Australia (Euthanasia Law Act 1997) with some Australian states legislating for VAD e.g. Victoria and WA.
• The issue involves many complications and as the moral/legal implications of killing a human, the responsibilities posed to the medical profession and issues with the policing the practice if legalised.

Question 14

Societal View on Euthanasia For:

Answer 14

• Euthanasia would allow people to ‘die with dignity.’
• It is each individual’s ‘right’ to choose the timing and manner of their death (self-determination).
• Euthanasia would save some precious resources to treat people who could live rather can spending resources on people suffering with no cure or hope or living.
• Family and friends would be spared the pain of seeing their loved one suffer a long-drawn-out death.
• Society permits animals to be put down as an act of kindness when they are suffering; the same treatment should be available to humans.
• Euthanasia is an act of compassion.
• Euthanasia is a personal choice.
• It is a person’s right to euthanise.
• E.g., It’s worked well in other places, like the Netherlands, Belgium & Oregon in the US

Question 15

Societal View on Euthanasia Against

Answer 15

• Euthanasia would weaken society’s respect for the value and importance of human life.
• It would lead to worse care for the terminally ill.
• It would put too much power in the hands of doctors and damage the trust between patient and doctor.
• Some people may feel pressured to request euthanasia by family, friends, or doctors, when it isn’t what they really want.
• It would undermine commitment of doctors/nurses to save lives.
• It would discourage the search for new cures and treatments.
• Voluntary euthanasia could be the first step on a slippery slope that leads to involuntary euthanasia, where those who are undesirable or seen as a problem could be killed.

Question 16

Catholic View on Euthanasia

Answer 16

• Basic Catholic starting point when facing issues – The Catholic worldview – there is one relational God, Creator of all, respect for all human life – and therefore the prohibition on all forms of destruction of human life.
• The Catholic belief in the sacredness of human life, summarized by the 5th Commandment “You shall not kill”, involves issues like euthanasia. Human life is to be respected from conception to natural death.
• This also comes into relation with the 7th Commandment “You shall not steal”, involves issues like euthanasia. Each human life belongs to that person and by assisting in Euthanasia (VAD) you are stealing someone of the life they may have left.
• The Church cares deeply about alleviating the suffering of God’s people in the world. However, suffering is an inescapable aspect of life and that this suffering ultimately unites us to God and helps us see our sheer dependence on him.
• Human lives are special because God created them. Therefore, human life should be protected and preserved. We shouldn’t interfere with God’s plans by shortening human lives.
• Human beings are made in God’s image. They have a special value and dignity. This value doesn’t depend on the quality of a particular life. Taking a life violates that special value and dignity.
• True compassion for the sick and suffering. Even though an act of euthanasia may be motivated by a sense of compassion, true compassion motivates us to remain with those who are dying, understanding, and supporting them through their time of need.
• It is right to seek to eliminate pain, but never right to eliminate people. Euthanasia represents the abandonment of those who are in greatest need of our care and support.
• Killing people is wrong, and this principle is fundamental to our law

Question 17

Other Religions views on Euthanasia

Answer 17

• Judaism disapproves of euthanasia. Some of them absolutely forbid it.
• Judaism states that those who become vulnerable through illness or disability deserve special care and protection, and that proper end of life care is a much better thing than euthanasia.
• The Jewish tradition regards the preservation of human life as one of its supreme moral values and forbids doing anything that might shorten life. However, it does not require doctors to make dying last longer than it naturally would.
• Judaism has the command from God in the scriptures that says, ‘you must not kill’ (Judaism, Islam, Christianity). This is usually interpreted as meaning ‘you must not kill innocent human beings.’ This rules out euthanasia, as well as murder, as carrying out any of these would be against God’s law.
• Jewish law says that doctors (and patients) have a duty to preserve life, and a doctor must do everything they can to save a patient’s life - even if the patient doesn’t want them to.

Question 18

Catholic Church View on Euthanasia vs Secular View on Euthanasia (Similarities and Differences)

Answer 18

Catholic Church view:
* Against all forms of Euthanasia - all human life regardless of its quality has sanctity and can never be deliberately destroyed. It is right to seek to eliminate pain, but never right to eliminate people. Every human person is made in the image of God and so their life is precious. The terminally ill should never be made to feel that their lives are “unproductive”, “futile” or “burdens” upon society, but be loved and supported in their final journey. Compassion involves sharing in the suffering of others – literally suffering with them.

A secular view:
* For euthanasia (VAD) self-determination. It is up to each individual to decide when to die. Unless life is of sufficient quality, then it is not worth preserving. Human beings have value which can be diminished, if one lacks self-consciousness, the ability to reason or form relationships. “Right to die legislation” & “Dignity in Dying.”

Similarities:
* Views based on concepts of dignity, compassion, and value of human life. However, they have different world views regarding these concepts. Similar view – want to eliminate pain.

Differences:
* Catholic Church = against. Secular view (self-determination) = for. Different worldviews. Catholic world view based on God, human sacredness. Secular view - the right to die does not come from God - And behind that lies the idea that human beings are independent biological entities, with the right to take and carry out decisions about themselves. Allied to this is a firm belief that death is the end.

Question 19

How Religion participates in society by playing various roles (4 roles)

Answer 19

1. Religious
2. Social
3. Political
4. Cultural

Question 20

How Religion contributes to society on an individual level:

Answer 20

• Helps construct meaning
• Ethical guidance
• Sense of belonging

Question 21

How Religion contributes to society on a community level:

Answer 21

• Social cohesion
• Conservative force
• Progressive force

Question 22

Societal Perspective (Reasons for the involvement of religion in society)

Answer 22

Social stability:
* By providing ethical principles which underpin charitable work and actions a more compassionate society is created.
* Provision of health services; educational institutions; services for the homeless, refugees and other disadvantaged groups.

Politically:
* Provides alternative views in discussion of issues esp. bioethical ones.
* Religions often present what is in the best interest of those who are marginalized and who often do not have a “voice” in political issues.

Question 23

Religious Perspective (Reasons for the involvement of religion in society)

Answer 23

Religiously:
* Religions believe they offer meaning and purpose for human existence.
* Religions believe they offer guidance for life in the secular sphere.
* Religion can bring stability and order to a society.
* It can unite people through worship e.g., it encourages people to give freely of their time in community service through its beliefs and teachings.
* Can bring people together through shared values.
* Helps people come to terms with life changing events such as death.
* It promotes welfare and the common good due to a person finding a sense of meaning and purpose.

Question 24

Societal Perspective (Reasons against the involvement of religion in society)

Answer 24

Social instability:
* Due to extremist factions that incite violence and division.
* Morality is not the domain of religion. Those without traditional religious beliefs are still capable of being moral.
* Secularist Humanists don’t believe that they need a religion of belief in a deity to embrace human reason and ethics.
* In doing so they reject religious dogma and therefore is unnecessary and only a roadblock
* From the point of view of certain secular humanists, reasons why religion should not participate in society include e.g., human reason is sufficient, religious belief is not rational

Politically:
* Are self-interested and not in the best interest of the nation.
* Personal and religious beliefs are to be exercised in the private realm and not the public sphere of politics

Question 25

Religious Perspective (Reasons against the involvement of religion in society)

Answer 25

Religiously:
* Members of a religion may choose to withdraw from society due to reliance on a mythical deity
* Usually this is because they desire an environment where they can commune with God free from the distractions of society.
* Reliance on God’s will reduce motivation and human ability to solve own problems leading to social evils being neglected.
* Members of religious orders live a communal life but take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a sign of their separateness from worldly attractions.