Ethics - Applied Ethics - Business and Medical Flashcards

Question

Define voluntary euthanasia

Answer 1

When a person’s death is directly caused by another person (perhaps a doctor) at their request and with their consent

Answer 2

When a doctor withdraws life-sustaining treatment which indirectly causes death, the doctor allows a patient to die by ‘letting nature take its course’

Answer 3

When a person’s life is ended without their consent but with the consent of someone representing their interests

Answer 4

Someone could take advantage of the situation?

Answer 5

They did not give consent

Answer 6

... taking it into our own hands, as human beings, to hasten death for ourselves (suicide) or for others (mercy killing) out of reasons of compassion. The answer in my view is clearly yes, on both sides of it. Indeed, to justify one, suicide or mercy killing, is to justify the other.’

Answer 7

o Each case must be judged according to its merits o No intrinsic laws which prevent euthanasia o For PVS with limited quality of life, the more compassionate thing is euthanasia o Using limited resources to keep a terminally ill patient alive at all costs at the expense of their welfare is unjustifiable

Answer 8

o Killing innocent people cannot be an absolute wrong o Each case must be judged according to love and compassion o Sanctity of life could mean helping someone to die if they are in considerable pain

Answer 9

o No law states life must be preserved at all costs o Laws and rules are made for humane treatment o This might mean helping people to die if it’s the better course of action for them

Answer 10

o The principle of love acknowledges that a person’s life might cease to be instrumentally of value to them o It also recognizes that their humanity if more significant than their mere biological existence

Answer 11

In conclusion: It is harder to justify letting someone die a slow and ugly death, dehumanized than it is to justify helping him escape from such misery

Answer 12

o Suicide and euthanasia in all forms undermines the stability of society as it undermines the purpose of the citizen to maintain its law o It is a sign that society has failed in its duty to care for all its members

Answer 13

o Aquinas states that a primary natural law duty is to worship God o Both Aquinas and Augustine argue that suicide and euthanasia is a failure of one’s duty to protect an innocent life o All forms of euthanasia or physician aided dying are illicit and intrinsically wrong

Answer 14

o The doctrine of ordinary and extraordinary means does not permit a person to refuse ordinary treatment o In Evangelium Vitae, the Pope makes a distinction between ordinary and extraordinary treatment

Answer 15

o Ordinary treatment is obligatory  Life must be preserved providing that it does not cause extra burden on the patient  This involves giving a sick person basic care like food and water • Necessary to sustain life • Does not enhance or prolong it

Answer 16

o Extraordinary treatment is not obligatory  Extraordinary treatments are those which do not have high expectations of success (like surgery) or could be dangerous (like experimental therapies)

Answer 17

o The natural law argument is that whatever state of conscience a person is in they cannot cease to be a person o Non-voluntary euthanasia for a PVS, incompetent, seriously disabled or very sick baby is not permitted as death is defined as a cessation of the heart and brain o Natural law also says only self defense is a sufficient reason to kill o Therefore, as a doctor has a duty to protect a patient from committing suicide assisted suicide/euthanasia is murder

Answer 18

Only the doctrine of double effect permits allowing a patient to die in certain rare circumstances as a side effect of pain-relieving treatment, but the intension must never be directly to cause death. Whatever the case, euthanasia is a moral evil. Even passive euthanasia is wrong if the intention is to cause death, this is the position held by the Catholic Church in its Declaration on Euthanasia (1980)

Answer 19

``` .Locked in syndrome .Fought for the right to end his life .Described his life as a 'living nightmare' .Lost his case in the high court .From that point on he refused food ```

Answer 20

.Scum collapsed on him in rugby and broke his neck .Mother - 'he couldn't walk ... and needed 24-hour care' .Travelled to Switzerland to kill himself by lethal injection at Dignitas .Parents supported his decision - 'His death was, no doubt, a welcome relief from the prison his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence.'

Answer 21

.When born, doctors gave her years to live .Now a leading campaigner for the rights of people with disabilities and a member of the British House of Lords .Opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide .Supports the charity Care Not Killing which promotes palliative care .Any change in law would place too much pressure on the disabled and terminally ill and send out a message regarding how much life is valued

Answer 22

.2006 led a campaign .Ill patients who beg to end their life often change their mind .Puts pressure on vulnerable people to not be a burden on their carers .David Williams, a 51 year old father of 3 supports Care Not Killing, backs the campaign .Williams - 'People would be put under pressure because when you are that ill, you just want to do whatever is the easiest thing.'

Answer 23

o This is based on the 4 working principles of Fletcher | o This means that ethical decisions can and must change, depending on the situation or circumstances

Answer 24

o This means that situational ethics is simple to apply and should result in a positive and loving outcome for all involved o E.g. Daniel James, former youth rugby player who was left paralysed after an accident, his parents supported his decision to die

Answer 25

o This means we are not bound or restricted by the absolutism (unchanging belief) of the Natural Law approach

Answer 26

o Singer argues for a quality of life approach which is much more suited to Situation Ethics rather than Natural Law o He argues we should abandon ‘sanctity of life’

Answer 27

o ‘If all men were angels’ o Barclay’s argument suggests that Situation Ethics is open to abuse with euthanasia o People might manipulate the approach for selfish means o Baroness Jane Campbell campaigns for the rights of the disabled  She argues that Situation Ethics might lead to a slippery slope where the rights of vulnerable people are removed

Answer 28

o They take the approach that humans are fallen and corrupt beings o For this reason, ethical approaches such as Natural Law are far more appealing as they provide clear guidance on how on should act o E.g. defend innocent life and live in an orderly society

Answer 29

o In 1952, the Church called situation based approaches “individualistic and subjective” o This means euthanasia can be used immorally in examples such as disability and genetics

Answer 30

1. Natural law is based upon clear rules and guidance, for example divine laws such as Commandments and Church teachings, and also focuses on human laws. Euthanasia is illegal in the UK which supports the idea that ‘mercy killing’ is considered to be inherently wrong

Answer 31

2. It is based on the primary precepts, in particular defending innocent life and maintaining an orderly society. These precepts give clear direction that killing should be avoided in almost all circumstances. The precepts can be used to protect the most vulnerable in society, i.e. Jane Campbell

Answer 32

3. Natural law follows the principle of synderesis which means ‘doing good and avoiding evil’. According to the sanctity of life world view, euthanasia is seen as evil as it ends life which only God can do.

Answer 33

1. The synderesis principle can be interpreted to support the use of euthanasia, the example of Daniel James shows that the ‘evil’ might be letting him continue to suffer, his parents supported his assisted suicide as they saw this as a good action.

Answer 34

2. GE Moore and Kai Nielson both argue that humans do not have a fixed nature, the fact that we disagree over moral issues of right and wrong highlights a significant weakness in natural law theory, for example, why is euthanasia legal in some countries and illegal in others?

Answer 35

3. Tony Nickelson (locked in syndrome), Peter Singer would challenge natural law based on a person’s quality of life, if a person is living a life of immense suffering the surely it seems ‘natural’ to put an end to this suffering. People should have autonomy (freedom) over their own bodies. Singer would argue that any moral theory based on religious principles is wrong.

Answer 36

4. The famed atheist, Christopher Hitchens, argued that religion is the original sin. The fact that we allow people to live a life of misery and suffering based on the idea that life is sacred and belongs to God could be accused of being evil itself.

Answer 37

the idea that a business has a wider responsibility towards the different stakeholders involved, e.g. staff, customers, environment etc.

Answer 38

where an employee discloses wrongdoing to the employer or the public

Answer 39

the idea that how you treat your stakeholders and customers will have a positive effect on your business

Answer 40

in business this refers to world economies, industries, markets, cultures, and policy-making being integrated (linked)

Answer 41

* Economic progress, social justice, and environmental preservation * Company has to be beneficial to all stakeholders * Take care of the safety of the workforce * Follow and uphold laws * Be an ethical company

Answer 42

A stakeholder is anyone with an interest in an organisation

Answer 43

1. No advertising 2. But in bulk 3. Not a big profit margin 4. Cares about standards in supply chain a. Working hours b. Fair pay 5. Provide teaching/training 6. Code of conduct a. Clear ethical framework 7. Ethical trade team (80+ people) 8. Local employees understand culture and context 9. 2500 audits each year a. Could be unannounced 10. Workers voice 11. ETI 12. ACT 13. Global textile union 14. Her health initiative

Answer 44

Marmite Maker ‘Unilever’ to Insist Suppliers Pay ‘Living Wage’ - By 2030 it will refuse to do business with any firm that does not pay at least a living wage or income to its staff - The consumers goods giant defined a living wage as one that covered a family’s basic needs and ‘helped them break the cycle of poverty’

Answer 45

In 2012, the leader of the Catholic Church in England wrote an article called: ‘A Blueprint for Better Business’ He drew upon Aquinas’ natural law and the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and presented 7 principles for good business, such as: 1. Human dignity a. Each person should be treated as a human and never treated as an instrument to make a profit 2. Common good a. A business should work for the benefits or interests of all people not just shareholders 3. Solidarity a. A business must be in touch with the needs of communities, particularly by looking for ways of helping under privileged communities

Answer 46

... the moral law … no more makes someone a better person than knowing the rules of football makes them a better player.’ Cardinal Nichols is arguing its not enough to simply know the law, a Catholic has a responsibility to follow and uphold the law, if the law is not being followed then they must challenge this

Answer 47

Many people will make a point of buying what they perceive as ethically sourced goods and will not buy from companies which use what they see as unethical practices, such as child-exploitation or deforestation Few people return to companies they feel have treated them dishonestly or disrespectfully Therefore, businesses have a responsibility to all stakeholders – customers, employees, shareholders and the community where it is based

Answer 48

"The overriding consideration, never to be forgotten, is that we are all members of the one human family. The moral obligation to care for one another flows from this fact, as does the correlative principle of placing the human person, rather than the mere pursuit of power or profit, at the very centre of public policy.”

Answer 49

“All too often materialistic or utilitarian visions, sometimes hidden, sometimes celebrated, lead to practices and structures motivated largely, or even solely, by self-interest.”

Answer 50

- In 2013, a computer expert and former CIA systems administrator, Edward Snowden released confidential government documents to the press about the existence of government surveillance programs - According to many legal experts, the US government, his actions violated the Espionage Act of 1917, which identified the leak of state secretes as an act of treason - Yet despite the fact that he broke the law, Snowden argued that he had a moral obligation to act - He gave justification for his ‘whistleblowing’ by stating that he had a duty: “To inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them”

Answer 51

The moral law may be more important than the contract or law of the country Employees/stakeholders have a right to know the truth In Snowdon’s case, this security initiative had an impact upon all citizens so they should be aware of what was happening It may be a crime or breaking contract but we must consider the greater good, a utilitarian would have to weigh up GHP whereas Kantian would focus on good will and duty to the moral law (categorical imperative)

Answer 52

It may break the law or break a contract with your employer It could be the downfall of a busines which means people will lose their jobs and potentially have greater consequences In Snowdon’s case, whistleblowing in the CIA may lead to further implications such as loss of life and decreased security for the country A utilitarian would have to consider the maths involved and consider the outcome or consequences, it will be the outcome that will deem the action appropriate

Answer 53

Kant would ague that laws should be universalised. For instance, if we accept lying in order to bring about the greater good then we essentially accept lying no matter what. Kant would support whistleblowing because he believes people have a moral duty to tell the truth.

Answer 54

1. Solidarity with community 2. Environmentally friendly 3. Human dignity – respect for people 4. Have a code of conduct/values 5. Take feedback – listen to stakeholders 6. Ethical products

Answer 55

``` Generates customers Negotiate better if honest Happier employees might work harder Fair pay and better working conditions Working for the common good and show solidarity Better products and happier customers ```

Answer 56

Time consuming Expensive Increased costs because they may have to change supply chain Increased costs for the business might lead to increased costs for the customer which may be counterproductive

Answer 57

- Cheating on fumes test, lying - Damage to environment - Managers blamed it on employees - Selfish behaviour to increase profit

Answer 58

The Body Shop – ethical supply chain and products Primark code of conduct to ensure corporate social responsibility Costco – taking care of its staff (payment) Unilever (Marmite) – offering a living wage Toms – every £3 made £1 is given away, they have given away 100 million pairs of shoes H&M – conscious campaign

Answer 59

Volkswagen – lying to customers and environmental issues Nike – issues with the supply chain Amazon – aggressive tax avoidance Starbucks – tax evasion BP – Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Answer 60

Immanuel Kant uses the ‘Good Shopkeeper’ analogy when discussing business ethics. For Kant, duty should be carried out for duties sake. The actions and processes of a business are more important than the outcome.

Answer 61

Jeremy Bentham would apply the ‘pleasure principle’ to business ethics and look for the greatest happiness for the greatest number (quantitive approach).

Answer 62

John Stuart Mill would apply the GHP but would focus on a more qualitative approach. He is also associated with ‘rule utilitarianism’.

Answer 63

Shopkeeper 1: The first is honest because he is scared of being caught if he tries to cheat his customers. This shopkeeper is motivated by selfish emotion rather than duty or obligation. Shopkeeper 2: The second is honest because he believes it is morally right to be honest. This shopkeeper acts out of duty and that is the standard Kant expects. The first shopkeeper is motivated to be honest by the rewards of a positive reputation and profit. The second is motivated by respect for morally right action. Taking these motivations into consideration from the standpoint of Kantian ethics, it is clear which shopkeeper is acting right. The second shopkeeper acts in accordance with Kant’s categorical imperative. Unlike the first, the second shopkeeper is honest because he knows it is morally right.

Ethics - Applied Ethics - Business and Medical Flashcards

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