Week 12 P&L

Question 1

When is withdrawal of treatment ethically (and legally) permissible

Answer 1

• When a competent patient refuses it
• ACD refuses the treatment pre-emptively
• When treatment is deemed futile/excessively burdensome

Question 2

Active vs passive euthanasia

Answer 2

• Active: killing someone
• Passive: letting someone die

Question 3

Voluntary vs involuntary vs non-voluntary euthanasia

Answer 3

• Voluntary: at request of competent, autonomous agent
• Involuntary: against expressed which of competent agent
• Non-voluntary: patient is non-competent

Question 4

VAD is permissible when the following 2 criteria are met

Answer 4

1. Going to die within 6mo (or 120mo if neurodegen)
2. Suffering cannot be relieved in a way the patient finds acceptable

(obvious capacity + competence requirements also)

Question 5

Arguments against active voluntary euthanasia (like VAD)

Answer 5

• Always wrong to kill innocent people
• It’s not up to us to choose when we die
• Slippery slope argument (?suicide)
• Weakens commitment to treating patients well
• Traumatic for doctors

Question 6

Arguments for or against advanced care directives

Answer 6

• For: maximises autonomy
• Against: ?drawing false conclusions, can’t gain informed consent, changing identity of person since they made ACD