Medical Ethics

Question 1

Define abortion.

Answer 1

The deliberate termination of pregnancy and removal of the foetus from the womb.

Question 2

Brainstorm reasons why a woman might want or need to have an abortion.

Answer 2

• Health (can be life-threatening)
• Not ready to raise children
• Family disagreements
• Disadvantaged background
• Overpopulation

Question 3

Add some reasons why someone might oppose abortion.

Answer 3

• Christians ~ Sanctity of Life, goes against God’s will (“do not kill”)
• If foetus is viable at 23 weeks, should the law be changed?

Question 4

What is Descartes’ view on personhood and some possible implications?

Answer 4

• “Cogito ergo sum” ~ complex thought is the essence of personhood (self-awareness)
• Link: foetus does not have personhood
• W: foetal brain development is at 28 weeks (“thought” as a term is vague)
• W: does this mean people with cognitive disabilities are also not “persons”?

Question 5

What is Locke’s view on personhood and some possible implications?

Answer 5

• Rationality, consciousness, self-awarness
• Link: foetus does not have personhood
• similar weaknesses to Descartes

Question 6

What is Singer’s view on personhood and some possible implications?

Answer 6

• Sentience: avoid pleasure and pain, “speciest”
• Link: embryo not a person, foetus from 16 week
• W: impossible to know if foetus feels pain
• W: ableism against disabied

Question 7

What is Warren’s view on personhood and some possible implications?

Answer 7

• Personhood = foetus no longer dependent on the mother for survival
• Criteria ~ sentience, emotionality, reason
• W: does “reliance” refer to in womb or outside?
• W: “physical dependence” is too vague

Question 8

What is Aquinas’ view on personhood and some possible implications?

Answer 8

• Personhood = being with a soul (ensoulment happens at conception)
• Link: soul = value, SOL means foetuses have equitable value to a born human, abortion is wrong
• W: how do we prove existence of a soul?
• W: does not take into account QOL for mother?
• W: if life begins at conception, so twins have souls?

Question 9

Define euthanasia.

Answer 9

Euthanasia: painless killing of a person from an incurable/painful disease.

Question 10

What is the difference between voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 10

• Voluntary: killing of a person with their consent
• Involuntary: killing a person who is suffering without their consent
• Non-voluntary: killing someone who is in pain, but consent from the person is not available (e.g., coma)

Question 11

What is the difference between active euthanasia and passive euthanasia?

Answer 11

• Active: acting to kill someone who is suffering (e.g., lethal injection)
• Passive: an omission which brings the death of someone who is suffering (e.g., withdrawal of meds, turning off machine)

Question 12

What is the difference between suicide and assisted suicide?

Answer 12

• Suicide: when a person takes their own life on their own volition
• Non-assisted suicide: when a person has help to take their own life

Question 13

What is the Hippocratic Oath?

Answer 13

“I will use treatment for the benefit of the ill in accordance with my ability and judgement, and I will keep them from harm and injustice.”

Question 14

What are some implications with the Hippocratic Oath?

Answer 14

• Not all treatments will benefit the ill (some could cause pain and suffering)