Unit 2 Matters of Life & Death - Euthanasia

Question 1

What does ‘Euthanasia’ mean?

Answer 1

Good death

Question 2

What can euthanasia be called?

Answer 2

“Mercy Killing”

Question 3

Under British Law, is euthanasia legal?

Answer 3

No. Drs could be charged with murder or manslaughter.

Question 4

What is ‘Voluntary Euthanasia’?

Answer 4

At the patient’s request/ assisted suicide

Question 5

What is ‘Involuntary Euthanasia?’

Answer 5

Ohers decide that it would be in the patient’s best interest to die.

Question 6

What is ‘Active euthanasia’?

Answer 6

When a person directly and deliberately causes the patients death eg. lethal dose of a drug

Question 7

What is ‘Passive euthanasia’?

Answer 7

Decision made to stop giving further treatment, even though death will be the result.

Question 8

Biblical quotes on Euthanasia?

Answer 8

• “God made man in his own image.”
• God gave man “dominion over every living thing”
• “I was born with nothing and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave and now he has taken away.”
• “Do not kill”
• “You are God’s temple and God’s spirit lives in you.”
• “Trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval and his approval creates hope”

Question 9

What is the view of the Roman Catholic church on Euthanasia?

Answer 9

_ against God’s law
- no one can permit, consent or perform it
- suffering should be met with care/love
- life is precious to God

Question 10

What is the view of the Presbyterian church?

Answer 10

= to see a person through natural death, providing good pain relief, palliative care
- ensure person is valued and respected despite their inevitable death

Question 11

What is the view of the Church of Ireland

Answer 11

• Want to soothe and take away pain but not through euthanasia
• increase resources to provide good palliative care & training

Question 12

Arguments for euthanasia?

Answer 12

• quickly and humanly end suffering
• help shorten grief of loved ones
• help Drs to know patient’s intentions
• help others to face death if they knew they could die with dignity
• make decision early on before stress and anxiety set in

Question 13

Arguments against euthanasia?

Answer 13

• many available drugs to help patient die naturally and with dignity
• patient may not be rational or may change their mind
• many people may recover instead
• old people may feel obliged to choose euthanasia to avoid being a burden
• euthanasia devalues life by making it disposable
• Hippocratic oath - must try to preserve life
• better palliative care facilities would mean less need for euathanasia

Question 14

What is the “slippery slope” argument?

Answer 14

If voluntary euthanasia is granted - only a matter of tome before compulsory/involuntary would occur

Question 15

Where has the most liberal attitude towards euthanasia?

Answer 15

Netherlands

Question 16

What are the legal guidelines in Netherlands?

Answer 16

• if patient repeatedly requests it
• experiencing unbearable suffering
• Dr must seek a 2nd medical opinion
• death must be reported as due to euthanasia and not medical causes

Question 17

What is ‘EXIT’ ?

Answer 17

a pressure group campaigning to allow Drs to give a lethal injection to a terminally ill patient if they have a living will (a signed declaration requesting it before 2 witnesses, before they become unwell)