Euthanasia

Question 1

what is euthanasia

Answer 1

Euthanasia means “a good death”, hence “mercy killing”, or “assisted suicide”

Question 2

what is the sanctity of life

Answer 2

life is the most precious gift of a human being - once life is gone all other gifts are lost
often grounded in religious teachings - humans are created in the image of god (imago dei) -
god stops Abraham sacrificing his son
ancient laws ban the taking of life

Question 3

what is the quality of life

Answer 3

human life has to possess certain attributes in order to have value
PVS - could create no quality of life - can’t move, speak ect
humans should be Able to live dignified lives and end life with dignified - not matter of pain but self respect

however individuals such as Stephen hawking who had heavily curtailed physical activity still lived a great life

‘it were better to die once and for all than to drag out my lingering days in anguish’ - Aeschylus put this in a play during Ancient Greek times

Joseph fletcher was a christian but supported Euthanasia

Kevin smith - board member Canadian centre for inquiry - ‘Euthanasia must be a personal decision between the terminally ill and their families, without the idle threats of supernatural damnation’ -shouldnt make people feel guilty about a tragic situation

Question 4

what is the extent to which a life has some quality of life linked to

Answer 4

PARENTHOOD - the awareness of self, others, the world and the will and ability to act
–> modern technology can keep alive someone who is not even conscious
- wrong to perpetuate life against all odds’

however can we actually judge someones parenthood - what if there is a mistake

AUTONOMY /RIGHT TO DIE- John Stuart mill argued that in situations that do not concern others individuals should have full autonomy - ‘over himself, over his body and mind, the individual is sovereign’

jack Kevorkian - doctor who assisted people to take there own lives - ‘ the highest principle in medical ethics - in any kind of ethics- is personal autonomy’

opponents to Euthanasia and autonomy argued that this could be a direct threat to people especially those with low self esteem- could see themselves as a burden
wicked could take advantage of older people

Question 5

what is voluntary Euthanasia and what does Johnathan glover say on it

Answer 5

: applies when a person’s life is ended painlessly by a third party at their own request
goes against Hippocratic oath of docters
Hippocrates wrote ‘I will not prescribe a deadly drug to please someone’

Johnathan glover in ‘causing death and saving lives’ suggests factors should be considered before fulfilling the request
1the helper should be convinced the decision is serious
2 the helper should think the decision is reasonable
3 the circumstances in which the request comes needs considering - are they liable to change
glover says ‘to refuse to provide help is a very serious denial of the persons autonomy’

Question 6

pros of voluntary euthanasia

Answer 6

people may end up committed suicide in more violent way

allows people to enjoy life up until the point where they are no longer automonal

Question 7

cons of voluntary Euthanasia

Answer 7

could lead to involuntary Euthanasia as in nazi Germany where disabled people were euthanised (murdered)

could lead to people being discouraged from going to hospital

could detrimentally effect end of life palliative care - switch to ending life not comforting the patient

glover rejects all - nazi policy did not come from voluntary Euthanasia but an evil policy , we do not know how people wld behave and weather they wld or wld not go to the hospital and he suggests it wouldn’t effect palliative care

Question 8

what is non voluntary Euthanasia

Answer 8

when a person is unable to express their wish to die but there are reasonable grounds for ending their life painlessly . E.g PVS

some people prepare living wills - advises there wishes if they end up in a state of no mental facilities to express there own wishes

Question 9

cons of non voluntary euthanasia

Question 10

natural laws approach to euthanasia

Answer 10

Natural Law is a religious ethical theory that puts reason at the centre of moral thought and decisions. Euthanasia is a modern practice where a person/persons can be killed on their own terms, whether passively (switching of a life machine) or actively (lethal injection)

Natural Law is focused on the primary precepts and upholding its main components; worship God, live in an ordered society, reproduce, to learn and to defend the innocent
Euthanasia goes against possibly three of these primary precepts, and is therefore forbidden under natural law. The secondary precepts would argue that euthanasia is wrong as it goes against the precepts of defending the innocent.

in a period where quality of life is emphasised, natural law is incompatible with modern culture. Natural Law upholds the sanctity of life and any practice taking away life is wrong – in a society which allows this natural law is outdated. Aquinas lived when the church dominated society and culture and now the church and state are separate, showing now natural law should be adapted.