Topic 4 (Year 12): Euthanasia

Question 1

Persistent vegetative state (PVS) definition.

Answer 1

No brain activity = brain stem has died.

Question 2

Eugenics definition.

Answer 2

Using euthanasia as a form of ethnic cleansing.

Question 3

Act definition.

Answer 3

The action to bring about death.

Question 4

Omission definition.

Answer 4

Stopping treatment to bring about death.

Question 5

Palliative care definition.

Answer 5

End of life care administered to people with terminal diagnosis usually months; hospice movement.

Question 6

QALY definition.

Answer 6

A measure of the state of health of a person or group in which the benefits, in terms of length of life, are adjusted to reflect the QOL; 1 quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is equal to 1 year of life in perfect health.

Question 7

In what year was the Suicude Act passed?

Answer 7

1961.

Question 8

In Britain, are doctors allowed to permit euthanasia?

Answer 8

No.

Question 9

What is the name of the oath doctors have to take?

Answer 9

The Hippocratic Oath.

Question 10

Who was the originator of the Hippocratic Oath?

Answer 10

Hippocrates.

Question 11

What does the Catholic Catechism say about people whose lives are diminished?

Answer 11

Those whose lives diminished or weakened deserve special respect.

Question 12

What does the Catholic Catechism say on the principle of double effect?

Answer 12

The use of pain killers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformitty with human dignity if death is not willed as either and end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable.

Question 13

What is sanctity of life?

Answer 13

It refers to the idea that life is special and of infinite value.

Question 14

What is the religious belief behind sanctity of life?

Answer 14

Humans are God’s creation which gives them value in and of themselves.

Question 15

What is the non-religious belief behind sanctity of life?

Answer 15

Human life is rare and statistically improbable, giving it value.

Question 16

Exodus 10:15 quote + meaning.

Answer 16

“You shalt not murder.” -> Human life is sacred.

Question 17

What are two arguments for Sanctity of Life?

Answer 17

1 - fundamental natural law.
2 - slippery slope.

Question 18

What are two arguments against Sanctity of Life?

Answer 18

1 - divorce.
2 - abortion.

Question 19

When was the Divorce Reform Act stated?

Answer 19

1969.

Question 20

How many abortions (on average) are carried out in the UK every year?

Answer 20

180,000.

Question 21

What does the Quality of Life argument state?

Answer 21

Life is valuable provided it is worth living.

Question 22

What is strong SOL?

Answer 22

Politically referred to a ‘pro-life’ and philosophically as ‘vitalism’ - there are no ordinary or extraordinary means which justify the termination of human life.

Question 23

What is weak SOL? (3 points)

Answer 23

• Does not consider that killing an innocent person out of care is morally equivalent to murder.
• Murder implies some ulterior motive such as revenge, curelty, greed, or hatred.
• Suicide as an act of love in exceptional circumstances is not morally wrong.

Question 24

Give 3 company/charity examples.

Answer 24

NICE; Dignity in Dying; My Death, My Decision.

Question 25

What do NICE do?

Answer 25

Consider pain level, mobility, and state of mind; look for a drug to treat the condition, one that is cheapest, has the least side effects, and calculate QALY.

Question 26

What do Dignity in Dying do? (quote)

Answer 26

"Dying people are not suicidal - they don't want to die but they do not have the choice to live. When death is inevitable, suffering should not be. Along with good care, dying people deserve the choice to controlling the timing and moment of their death."

Question 27

What do My Death, My Decision do?

Answer 27

Believe the right to euthanasia should be extended to those with debilitating illnesses as well as those with terminal illnesses, "right-to-die campaign", assisted dying, "many people sre left incurably suffering for longer thsn six months.

Question 28

Why does Peter Singer reject SOL arguments?

Answer 28

He states the worth of a human being depends on its quality, if someone has a low quality of life, they are justified in committing suicide/euthanasia.

Question 29

What does Singer say about being "persons"? (3 points)

Answer 29

- In order to be "persons" and to deserve moral consideration, beings must be self-aware, and capable of perceiving themselves as individuals through time. - No new born infants are "persons", he claims that some poeple with life-long cognitive disabilities never become "persons" at any tim throughout their lives. - Killing a "non-person" isn't as bad as killing a "person".

Question 30

What are Singer's 5 QOL commandments?

Answer 30

1 - Recognise that the worth of human lives varies. 2 - Take responsibility for the consequences of your decisions (to save or end a life). 3 - Respect a person's desire to love or die. 4 - Bring children into the world only if they are wanted. 5 - Do not discriminate on the basis of species.

Question 31

What is autonomy?

Answer 31

Autonomy means 'self-ruling'. It is the belief that we are free and able to make our own decisions.

Question 32

Where does the idea of autonomy stem from?

Answer 32

Mill's harm principle (utilitarianism).

Question 33

What does Singer's preference utilitarianism say about autonomy?

Answer 33

It agrees that humans should be free to pursue their own desires and interests.

Question 34

What does Jonathan glover say on autonomy?

Answer 34

External checks are required for voluntary euthanasia; if someone of sound mind is choosing euthanasia, they can go through with it.

Question 35

Robert Nozick was a libertrian. What is a libertarian?

Answer 35

People have an absolute right to do whatever they want so long as they are not harming others.

Question 36

What did Robert Nozick say on voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 36

Argued for the principle of 'self-ownership' = we have property rights over our own lives and bodies; results in a deontological view of autonomy regarding euthanasia, it is someone's right ot choose to end their own life.

Question 37

Peter Singer had a consequentialist view on voluntary euthanasia. What is a consequentialist view?

Answer 37

Introduced by Mill, who developed political liberalism; autonomy of a competent could lead to euthanasia, nothign else.

Question 38

What is Singer's view on voluntary euthanasia?

Answer 38

He says that with those people who have temporary, curable illnesses - such as depression - we can 'safely predict' they will change their view on living.

Question 39

What does Archbishop Anthony Fisher say about voluntary euthanasia? (5 points)

Answer 39

- Allowing euthanasia for autonomy is vulnerable to the slippery slope issue. - There is no way to restrict the "free to die" principle. - It's not logically consistent to take a consequentialist approach to autonomy. - It's only possible to believe in absolute autonomy. - It's better not to adapt autonomy as a principle at all regarding euthanasia.

Question 40

What does the principle of double effect state?

Answer 40

A person may morally perform an act which is forseen to produce good and evil, if the action in tiself was good from the onset.

Question 41

NML - How is Aquinas' divine law applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 41

Supports the idea that all life is sacred and of supreme value.

Question 42

NML - How is Aristotle's synderesis applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 42

No amount of good outcomes can justify as evil act; evil acts are to be avoided at all costs; therefore, you could never kill a human.

Question 43

NML - How is Aquinas' preservation of life precept applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 43

Opposes the use of all types of euthanasia; taking a life clearly runs contrary to this precept; primary precepts are absolute - guidance is clear that the taking of life is wrong; Aquinas would argue that while it might seems compassionate, you are pursuing an apparent good, not a real one.

Question 44

NML - How is Aquinas' ordered society precept applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 44

NML argues that SOL is central to a safe and peaceful society; a society where life is not valued is not a safe one.

Question 45

SE - How are Fletcher's working principles applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 45

Fletcher argues that the person's medical situation has to be the starting point, not laws or moral principles.

Question 46

SE - How is Fletcher's personalism principle applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 46

Situation ethics rejects legalism; rules can be broken when love is best served; strict adherance to rules is likely to lead to suffering rather than what is best ofr the person involved.

Question 47

SE - How is what Pope Pius XII said applicable to euthanasia?

Answer 47

Situation ethics is an attack of Jesus; some things (e.g. adultery) are wrong regardless of the situation; laws are to be applies, and not invented.

Question 48

Give two examples (and small explanations) of passive euthanasia.

Answer 48

- Dax Cowart: sustained debilitating injuries when a gas leak of propane ignited when the car started; he was "forcible treated for 14 months"; he attempted suicide multiple times. - Tony Bland: injuries included crushed ribs and punctured lungs from a surge at a football match; suffered irreversible brain damage (PVS); in a coma for 4 years before treatment was withdrawn.

Question 49

Give two examples (and small explanations) of voluntary euthanasia.

Answer 49

- Diane Pretty: had motor neurone disease; she was unable to move or communicate despite her mental abilities and capacity remaining the same; she could not commit suicide and her husband couldn't help her due to the Suicide Act in 1961; she died from chest issues. - Dr Jack Kevorkian: publicly championed for the terminally ill patient's right to die; arrested in 1988 and convicted for secodn-degree murder; once released on parole in 2007 he was no longer able to offer advice, articipate in, or be present at any type of euthanasia; he died in 2011.