1
Q
Personal Autonomy
A
- Control over what happens to a person’s body is a fundamental human right
- If someone is in too much pain, they should be allowed to be free from their suffering. People should not be forced to live in agony against their will
- Many illnesses strip people of their dignity and people might not want their family to experience this. People should be allowed to die as their friends and family remembered them
- Palliative care is not enough for some people who are in extreme distress and suffering
- People should not be forced to travel to another country to die. At an already distressing time in their life, the choice should be there to make their end of life as comfortable and peaceful as possible
- If you disagree with assisted dying for religious reasons then the option is there for you to die in a hospice. This should not be forced on those who do not believe. Personal choice at end of life must include all human beings regardless of religion.
2
Q
Types of Euthanasia
A
- Active = a person carries out an action in order to end the life of a suffering person, e.g administering a drug
- Passive = treatment is withheld or withdrawn because it’s just delaying the natural process of dying
- Voluntary = Dying person consents
- Non-voluntary = The person cannot consent but is euthanised anyway
- Involuntary = The person doesn’t consent but is euthanised anyway
3
Q
Arguments for euthanasia
A
- Death is a private matter and the state should not interfere with the individual’s right to die
- It is expensive to keep people alive when there is no cure for their illness. Assisted suicide would release precious resources to treat people who could live
- Society permits animals to be put down as an act of kindness when they are suffering, the same treatment should be available to humans.
- Family and friends would be spared the pain of seeing their loved one suffer a long-drawn-out death.
- Assisted suicide enables a person to die with dignity and in control of their situation.
- There is nothing good or right about suffering. Assisted dying is
a compassionate response to suffering, so it’s wrong to
criminalise someone who helps another person to die
4
Q
Arguments against euthanasia
A
- Some people unexpectedly recover
- It would discourage the search for new cures and treatments for the terminally ill.
- It would lead to worse care for the terminally ill.
*Any kind of assisted dying is open to abuse, so even though it might be morally right in some cases, it’s too risky to make it legal - Voluntary assisted suicide could be the first step on a slippery slope that leads to involuntary euthanasia, where those who are undesirable or seen as a problem could be killed.
- Assisted suicide would weaken society’s respect for the value and importance of human life.
5
Q
Moral Issues
A
- Personal Autonomy (see other flashcard)
- Human rights - Right to live free from suffering should mean right to die
6
Q
Moral Issues - Religious
A
- Sanctity of life - All life deserves respect/is special because it was made/ given by God and humans were made in the image of God.
- Suffering shouldn’t be avoided because God has a plan for our lives
- Even old sick people can have a relationship with God and are therefore valuable
7
Q
Non religious views - humanist
A
- They think that quality of life is important, as is respect for people
having control over their lives. So people should have the right to choose a painless and dignified end to their lives. - We have already taken on role of ‘God’ when we do operations, give vaccinations to save lives, prevent disease.
- Humanists believe people should have autonomy over their own lives (See autonomy card)
8
Q
Non religious views - Utilitarian
A
- Believe what makes the most people happy is morally good
- Could support as euthanasia ends suffering of the sick
- Could not support as euthanasia kills and brings unhappiness to family/friends
9
Q
End of life care
A
focuses on relieving symptoms like
pain, nausea, and anxiety, and improving quality of life for both the patient and their family, but it does not cure the underlying condition
10
Q
Palliative care
A
- specialised medical care for people with a serious illness and their families. focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness
- Palliative care can happen at home or in a hospital or in a hospice.
- To receive palliative care, a person does not need to be dying. They may have an advanced serious condition that cannot be cured
*Provided by doctors, nurses, and other specialists
11
Q
Hospice Care
A
- specialised medical and emotional care for people who are nearing the end of their life due to a terminal illness or chronic condition
- given to those who are dying
- can be provided at home or in a
specialised facility - provided by healthcare professionals but also people like hairdressers and priests
Nat 5 RMPS
flashcards
Decks in class (4)
# Cards
