Euthansia Flashcards
(31 cards)
Fletcher quote about Down’s Syndrome?
have no reason to feel guilty about putting a Down’s Syndrome baby away … True guilt arises only from an offense against a person, and a Down’s is not a person
What does Euthanasia mean?
EU - easy / THANATOS - death
the intentional premature ending of another person’s life
What is voluntary euthanasia?
When patients consent to euthanasia
(often due to terminal or incurable illness)
What is non-voluntary euthanasia?
When a patient does not consent to euthanasia, but an advocate for them does
(often when in a coma or PVS)
What is active euthanasia?
An ACT of euthanasia - lethal injection
What is passive euthanasia?
An OMISSION of treatment, a non-treatment decision - withdrawing life support
What does James Rachels argue?
That passive euthanasia is worse as it is cruel and the process of dying may be long and drawn out
Active euthanasia may uphold dignity and be more peaceful and less painful
What is the argument from Proportionality?
The pain in suffering/dying from an illness VERSUS the suffering/pain of death
What is personhood?
What separates a human being from a person
Dead body, someone in a coma or PVS, (Fletcher) Down’s syndrome, foetus
What is the Sanctity of Life?
A NON-RELIGIOUS idea that human life is intrinsically supreme and special
RELIGIOUS- it is BECAUSE we are made imago dei, with a spark of divinity
What is strong Sanctity of Life?
Pro-life, vitalism
All life is sacred because God gave us souls
No means can justify the termination of human life
Life is valuable from conception until NATURAL death
What is the weak Sanctity of Life?
The killing of an innocent person out of love is not murder
Nobody deserves to live life in extreme pain
Life is a gift not a burden
What is Quality of Life?
Humans should be able to live dignified life, we should respect someone’s desire to live or die
What is the Alkmaar case?
Netherlands, 1984
95 year old woman, no longer eat or drink
Asked for a mercy kill
Decided life was unbearable
Doctor argued it was his legal duty to alleviate her suffering
Made the Netherlands reevaluate
What does Peter Singer promote?
The movement away from the sanctity of life to quality of life
What is the Robert Latimer and Tracy case?
13 year old Tracy- cerebral palsy
no voluntary control over her muscles, cannot walk or talk, constant pain
cant give painkillers because this might induce dangerous seizures
but described as being in a happy disposition
Robert Latimer put Tracy in the trunk of his car, connected the hose to the exhaust, Tracy died of carbon monoxide poisoning
1993
initially found guilty and sentenced to life in prison
retrial and sentenced to two years
Diana Pretty case?
Motor neurone disease - no cure, progressive
The law has taken all my rights away
Tony Nicklinson case?
What is palliative care?
End of life care, focus on comfortability
holistic approach
Because this is in place, we should not need euthanasia
Baby Charlotte case?
2005, Charlotte was born prematurely with severe brain damage
Against the wishes of the parents, the High Court did not allow doctors to resuscitate if she fell into a coma
Since her underlying condition did not justify giving medical assistance to live
What is the ‘slippery slope’ argument?
The value of human life would decrease based on economic and personal convenience
What does Helga Kuhse argue?
Utilitarian bioethicist
The onlty reason for uethanasia is out of mercy and respect
What does Daniel Maguire argue?
Ig God is the only person who has power over life, does that not take away the entirety of our free will?
We can INTERVENE to save a dying life (pace makers), but not able to end a life?
Why might Aquinas’ Natural Law support euthanasia?
Allows for passive euthanasia
The doctrine of double effect (administering morphine)
Burdensome treatment may unecessarily prolong a life- this is now required or allowed
