Debate: Physician Assisted Suicide Flashcards
1
Q
Euthanasia/mercy killing
A
Deliberate taking of another person’s life to relieve their suffering
2
Q
Assisted suicide
A
Situation where a competent person ends their own life but with the assistance of another person to perform the act e.g. providing means to do so
3
Q
Forms of assisted suicide
A
- Voluntary: request
- Non-voluntary: unable to express opinion
- Involuntary: competent person ignored/not asked
- Passive: refusal/withdrawal of current/future treatment
- Active: action with/without assistance that causes death
4
Q
Euthanasia legal countries
A
- Netherlands
- Colombia
- Belgium
5
Q
In UK
A
- Euthanasia: manslaughter, murder
- Suicide not a criminal act
- England/Wales: illegal to assist/encourage suicide
- Director of Public Prosecutions must consent before prosecutions
6
Q
Government
A
- Several attempts to liberalise law
- Individual conscience not government policy
7
Q
Common arguments
A
- Alternative: palliative
- Ethical: freedom of choice and not abusing another’s rights
- Pragmatic: already widespread practice
- Medical ethics: do no harm
- Slippery slope: unintended consequences
- Religious: sanctity of life
8
Q
Advance Directives (Decision in England/Wales)
A
- Not legally binding
Decision is legally binding - Future treatment refusal (when not possible to communicate)
- Must detail treatments and situations
9
Q
Advanced Statement
A
- Individual’s wishes explained to family/care givers by talking or writing
- Not legally binding
10
Q
Evolving trends relating to the debate
A
- Becoming increasingly legalised
- Both remain relatively rare
- Primarily involve cancer patients
- Existing data do not indicate widespread abuse of practices
