Euthanasia

Question 1

Define euthanasia.

Answer 1

The active undertaking of any act which directly leads to the end of life for the sake of alleviating suffering.

Question 2

List 2 components of euthanasia.

Answer 2

1 - Voluntariness.

2 - Activeness.

Question 3

Describe the 3 forms of voluntariness.

Answer 3

1 - Voluntary (where a patient is competent and is asked).

2 - Involuntary (where a patient is competent but is not asked).

3 - Non-voluntary (where a patient is not competent and therefore cannot be asked).

Question 4

Describe the 2 forms of activeness with regards to euthanasia.

Answer 4

1 - Active (doing an act of commission which leads to death).

2 - Passive (doing an act of omission which leads to death).

Question 5

Define physician-assisted suicide.

Answer 5

The non-active undertaking of any act which provides the means for life to be ended.

Question 6

Define assisted dying.

Answer 6

A more nebulous, politically palatable term for either euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.

Question 7

What determines the legality of euthanasia in the UK?

Answer 7

• Active euthanasia is illegal.

- Passive euthanasia is lawful if treatment is futile or it is accommodating a competent patient request.

Question 8

What is the difference between motive and intention?

Answer 8

• Motive is the driving force behind an act.

- Intention is the objective of the act.

Question 9

How do motive and intention affect legality of euthanasia?

Why does this mean that active euthanasia is considered to be murder?

Answer 9

• Motive plays no part in the law, whereas intention does.
• The intention of euthanasia and murder are the same (to end life), so euthanasia is classed as murder despite having different motives (in euthanasia, the motive to alleviate suffering).

Question 10

Describe the case of Dr Cox and Lillian Boyes.

Answer 10

• Lillian boyes was an elderly patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis who was in severe pain and nearing the end of her life.
• Dr Cox administered KCl to end her life prematurely.
• Dr Cox was convicted of murder due to his intention to end her life.

Question 11

List 3 reasons to justify DNACPR.

Answer 11

1 - A dying patient is at foreseeable risk of cardiac and respiratory arrest and CPR is not clinically appropriate.

2 - The risks and uncertainty of the outcome of CPR could outweigh potential benefits.

3 - A patient with capacity has expressed a wish not to be given CPR.

Question 12

What is an advanced decision?

Answer 12

A written and witnessed document that enables someone with capacity to refuse a specified medical treatment for a time in the future when they lack capacity.

Question 13

List 2 arguments for euthanasia.

Answer 13

1 - Autonomy.

2 - Compassion for reducing suffering.

Question 14

List 4 arguments against euthanasia.

Answer 14

1 - Impact on the provider of euthanasia.

2 - Sanctity of life.

3 - Playing God.

4 - Potential to recover.