Brock

Question 1

2 underlying values

Answer 1

1. self-determination

2. individual well-being

Question 2

self-determination

Answer 2

a competent person’s own interests in making decisions according to their conception of the good life (key to human dignity)

Question 3

individual well-being

Answer 3

life is a central aspect of well being (either intrinsically or instrumentally)
life can become a burden, not a benefit (patient can decide this)

Question 4

Brock’s Goal: defeat two kinds of arguments

Answer 4

1. euthanasia is always wrong because intentionally killing an innocent person is always wrong
2. even if it is morally justified in a particular case, it should be prevented because the social policy would have worse overall consequences

Question 5

Deliberate killing

Answer 5

• it is always morally wrong to kill an innocent person
• active euthanasia is the deliberate killing of an innocent person
• assumed: passive euthanasia/letting die is not deliberate killing
• therefore, active euthanasia is always wrong

Question 6

no difference between letting die and killing

Answer 6

• the greedy son example (p. 648)
• no difference between killing and letting die
• no difference between the two cases (murder and mercy killing);
  
  • physician acts with the patient’s consent
  • dr has a good motive
  • dr acts in a social role that authorizes act

Question 7

psychological evasion

Answer 7

the disease causes death in passive euthanasia. dr not responsible

Question 8

2 cases

Answer 8

1. failure to intubate with breathing respirator
2. extubate (taking tube out)
   are they morally different, especially in terms of responsibility?

Question 9

even if killing is worse than letting die…

Answer 9

it doesn’t follow that active euthanasia is always wrong

Question 10

Answer

Answer 10

it denies the victim something they value: life itself now or a future. doesn’t this imply the person can waive this right when they no longer value life? p. 649

Question 11

potential good consequences of legalizing euthanasia

Answer 11

1. offer respect to those who now can’t determine their lives
2. public demand satisfied
3. unnecessary physical and psychological suffering
   - people want to die with dignity and not with prolonged agony. remembered for the good (p. 651)

Question 12

Potential bad consequences

Answer 12

1. undermine trust in physicians
2. weaken healthcare for the dying
3. theaten already won progress in support for patient control of decisions
4. people will be forced to justify/defend their decisions to continue to living

Question 13

More challenges

Answer 13

5. weaken legal prohibitions against homocide
6. slippery slope
7. it will lead to nonvoluntary active euthanasia. brock thinks this is the strongest objection

Question 14

slippery slope

Answer 14

even though it might do moral good now, it will set up a series of events that will lead to killing people against their will