euthanasia Flashcards
what is non treatment decision?
when medical professionals make the decision to withdraw or withhold medication or life support that would keep a person alive because they are not going to get better
what is active euthanasia
a deliberate action performed to kill a person, for example a lethal injection. Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK
what is sanctity of life?
the idea that life is intrinsically sacred or has such worth that it is not considered within the power of human beings
what is quality of life?
a way of weighing the extrinsic experience of life that affects or justifies whether or not life is worth continuing
what is personhood?
the quality of human life that makes it worthy - usually linked to certain higher capacities
what are the higher capacities linked to personhood?
the awareness of self, others, the world and the will and ability to act are the most fundamental parts of human life. If these are gone, the person is no longer there
what are the three criteria for personhood?
- interaction
- preferences
- consistency
the religious origins of the sanctity of life
1. Genesis - image and likeness
In Genesis it says that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. This is the foundation of thinking called the ‘imago dei’ which is taken to mean that humans have qualities about them that sets them apart from other creatures and are similar to aspects of God
the religious origins of the sanctity of life
2. christian theologians
The early Christian theologians say that humans are unique and above all creatures. God has made humankind as a sacred animal and so humans have dignity, worth and sanctity.
the religious origins of the sanctity of life
3. Genesis - Abraham
The sanctity of life means that humans should not be sacrificed. In Genesis God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son, but he then counters this by commanding him to sacrifice a ram instead. This proves the sanctity of life as it is not permissable by God to kill human beings.
the religious origins of the sanctity of life
Counterpoint
1. Adam and Eve
Some Protestant theologians hold that the image and likeness of God in human beings was lost at the sin of Adam and Eve. However, this may have been saved through the salvation of Christ
the religious origins of the sanctity of life
Counterpoint
2. God’s commands
The Old Testament holds passages which disprove the idea of human sanctity of life. For example, God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah shows disregard for human life from God. God also commanded Joshua to destroy the inhabitants of the Promised Lands because they were committing sins.
Corinthians “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit….”
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God. You do not belong to yourself.”
Non religious reasons for the sanctity of life
Philosophers identify
philosophers identify features like self-consciousness, rational ability, free will and capacity for compassion as reasons for the higher status of human life.
