Euthanasia

Question 1

sanctity of life

Answer 1

a religious concept that human life is made in god’s image and is therefore sacred in value

Question 2

10 commandments example

Answer 2

‘you shall not murder’

Question 3

Catholic Church position on euthanasia

Answer 3

against it
use natural law, teachings of church and biblical evidence

Question 4

singer’s 5 quality of life commandments

Answer 4

1) recognise worth of human life varies
2) take responsibility for consequences of our decisions to save or end life
3) respect person’s desire to live or die
4) only bring children into world if they are wanted
5) shouldn’t discriminate on basis of species

Question 5

sanctity of life is useful- arguments

Answer 5

-upholds intrinsic value of life in a culture where we increasingly dehumanise others
- ensures basic rights are respected
- slippery slope- when abortion was legalised was expected to have a few thousand cases a year, but now over 180,000 take place annually in uk

Question 6

sanctity of life isn’t useful- arguments

Answer 6

• it’s a religious concept, increasingly secular society-or 50 percent of people in UK don’t believe in god
• it’s at odds with people’s autonomy in cases of voluntary euthanasia
• saving life at all costs is self defeating. leads to ppl dying in horrible pain- no dignity
• it demands that all life must be saved at all costs- medical and tech advancements- we know where treatment may lead to improvements or be pointless

Question 7

which primary precept is linked to euthanasia
what secondary precept does this lead to

Answer 7

primary: preserve innocent life
secondary: prohibit euthanasia

Question 8

how is euthanasia an apparent good

Answer 8

it stands in contradiction of real good of allowing life to continue its natural god-given course

Question 9

how can euthanasia through natural law be complicated

Answer 9

• distinction between ordinary and extraordinary means
• obligation for ordinary treatment: water, basic med
• no obligation for extraordinary treatment- life support

Question 10

morphine example for double effect

Answer 10

doctor can give morphine for pain relief. risk of ending patient’s life but intention is to relieve pain= good action

Question 11

what does double effect rely on

Answer 11

intention behind action
- doctor forces death is a possibility but it isn’t primary intention

Question 12

what do proportionalists argue about natural law

Answer 12

rules of NL can be broken if there is significant + proportion reason to make exception

Question 13

proportionalist view on euthanasia

Answer 13

• if biological life continues but personhood is greatly diminished, shortening process of death isn’t wrong

Question 14

Natural law provides good approach - arguments

Answer 14

• Sanctity off life> quality . avoids slippery slope
• prevents individuals from playing god
• double effect- flexibility in rigid system- allows pain relief despite frailty of person

Question 15

Natural law doesn’t provide a good approach- arguments

Answer 15

• overly religious, dependant on christian roots. often practised in ancient world pre dom christianity. secular society
• can be legalistic + absolutist. NL insists on a common approach
• NL requires people live in extreme pain. Utilitarian- better to reduce pain
• NL- not enough weight on human autonomy. person concerned should be central to decisions?
• ignores quality of life
• double effect can be euthanasia by default- knowing intention is v difficult

Question 16

Joseph fletcher on euthanasia

Answer 16

-keen supporter
-in later years served as president of the euthanasia society of America

Question 17

which category do rules such as ‘do not kill’ belong to in SE

Answer 17

Sophia (general rules of wisdom)
-can be broken when love demands it

Question 18

SE on quality or sanctity?

Answer 18

quality, autonomy >sanctity
- especially due to personalism- 4 principles

Question 19

SE: what is the starting point for decisions in medical ethics

Answer 19

the patient’s medical condition

Question 20

Fletcher’s pragmatism with euthanasia

Answer 20

-should do what is likely to work
-may not be ideal, perfect solutions but can ensure decisions are likely to lead to lesser of 2 possible evils

Question 21

why might SE suggest traditional religious ethics has come to wrong conclusion on euthanasia

Answer 21

it has a mistaken rules based view of what justice is

Question 22

SE provides a good approach to euthanasia- arguments

Answer 22

• flexibility- general principles> fixed rules- can respond to complex situations
• agape is a good moral principle and puts people first
• modern tech + science- know better who is/isn’t worth saving
• respects autonomy of individuals and recognises patient is most significant

Question 23

SE doesn’t provide a good approach to euthanasia- arguments

Answer 23

• too vague- little guidance on most loving. subjective ideas on most loving action
• requires prediction of future consequences- not always possible in complex med cases
• lacks absolute boundaries- concerns about slippery slope- increase in cases especially for vulnerable people

Question 24

autonomy

Answer 24

we are free and able to make our own decisions

Question 25

why do supporters of euthanasia appeal to idea of autonomy

Answer 25

-ability to determine own lives - linked to quality of life

Question 26

Daniel James case study

Answer 26

- England u16s rugby player - broke spine, paralysed chest down -assisted suicide in Switzerland after multiple suicide attempts

Question 27

Hannah jones case study

Answer 27

-leukemia and heart problems -most of life in hospital -cancer in remission but required heart transplant, constant drug treatment and replacement transplant within 10 years -at 13 decided she didn't want to go back into hospital and appeared on tv several times articulately justifying her decision

Question 28

what does Jonathan glover suggest is required

Answer 28

external checks on state of mind, decision is reasonable and not temporary emotional state - if someone makes decision in emotional state they aren't truly autonomous

Question 29

people should have autonomy over their own lives and decisions- arguments

Answer 29

- SE- supports autonomy - key aspect of personalism , make own decisions - arguments against autonomy are based on religion. irrelevant if god doesn't exist - over 50% of people in uk don't believe in god- autonomy is more appropriate

Question 30

people shouldn't have autonomy over their own lives and decisions- arguments

Answer 30

- NL- rejects that autonomy is most important. life is god given and preservation is one of 5 precepts - autonomy not supported by bible- specific commandments against taking life - time of birth and death is appointed by god - autonomy is difficult in such a traumatic time- lack of clarity to make good decisions - non voluntary- risk of decisions being made that aren't in person's best interests- has happened on occasions with DNR's

Question 31

active euthanasia

Answer 31

treatment is given that directly causes the death

Question 32

passive euthanasia

Answer 32

treatment is withheld and indirectly causes death

Question 33

what is rachels' thought experiment for act and omission

Answer 33

-smith is legal guardian. will inherit fortune if nephew dies before 18th. drowns the boy- act -jones also legal guardian - sees him slip and leaves him- omission

Question 34

1)what is common held view of act and omission to rachels' thought experiment 2)what is rachels' view

Answer 34

1-smith more guilty than jones 2- both equally bad, passive euthanasia by omission may be more cruel as death may take longer e.g. tony bland- removal of feeding tube= death didn't occur till 10 days later

Question 35

how does singer challenge the distinction between acts and omission

Answer 35

isn't always clear cut removal of bland's feeding tube is in some senses an action even if removal of food is omission not totally clear if his death is an act or omission

Question 36

NL on acts and omissions

Answer 36

- would draw a distinction - intention of agent who takes action is key - double effect may allow an act that leads to death (only if unintended) -primary action to relieve pain

Question 37

SE on acts and omissions

Answer 37

-doesn't draw great distinction -pragmatic approach - consequences are most significant aspect - outcome doesn't significantly change whether someone has died due to act or omission- pain relieved either way - an act that leads to death may be quicker and kinder

Question 38

there is big distinction between acts and omission when it comes to euthanasia- arguments

Answer 38

-NL- actions matter. preserve life- rules out acts that directly lead to death - double effect allows that some actions may lead to death - distinction takes seriously the issue of moral agency. if allowed active euthanasia would go against hippocratic oath and cause anxieties for physicians involved

Question 39

there is no big distinction between acts and omissions when it comes to euthanasia- arguments

Answer 39

-SE challenges distinction. cases where agape requires compassionate response of helping someone end their life- if by act or omission isn't morally significant - teleological approach that focuses on reducing pain + suffering favours whichever method is most helpful in doing so - withdrawal of treatment is often lengthy and leads to med resources allocated too those who won't recover. active can speed up inevitable process and free resources for those who need it -double effect is complex and not entirely coherent. if neg consequences are foreseen how can it be truly unintended?