Euthanasia Flashcards
What is euthanasia?
Painless killing of someone who suffers from a painful or incurable disease or illness.
What are the different types of euthanasia?
Passive, involuntary, voluntary and active euthanasia.
What is passive euthanasia?
The removal of life sustaining treatment if there is no hope of recovery. Such as a feeding tube.
What is active euthanasia?
When a person takes a specific course of action to end their own life. Such as taking an overdose.
What is involuntary euthanasia?
Death being forced upon a person. For example the death penalty
What is voluntary euthanasia?
When a person is killed as they explicitly asked for help to die. Often due to terminal illness.
What are Roman Catholic views on euthanasia? (3)
- preserve life
- ‘Do not kill’
- ‘Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God’ - Pope John Paul 11 (2nd)
What are Protestant/other Christian views on euthanasia? (3) (against)
- God gives life and no person has the right to take life
- ‘If we live it is for the Lord that we live, if we die it is for the Lord that we die’
- ‘your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’
What are some Christian views for euthanasia? (3)
- some say it is ‘do not kill’ some say ‘do not murder’
- God gave us free will
- Jesus saw love as the most important thing. Sometimes euthanasia is the most loving thing to do.
What are Islamic views on euthanasia? (2)
- Only Allah can take a life ‘no person can die except by Allah’s leave”
- Allah tests us with suffering. “If we look for a way out we have failed”
What are humanist views on euthanasia? (2)
- Life should not be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering.
- Promoted legalising assisted suicide in the UK. They also want not just terminally ill people but others who suffer to have the option.
