Topic 5 - Euthanasia Flashcards

Question

ESSAY PLAN - SITUATION ETHICS "how useful is situation ethics when applied to euthanasia?" POINT 1 sanctity of life vs quality of life

Answer 1

• Vitalist principle – life is a gift from God, thus intrinsically valuable, “in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1). Only God can choose when to end a life, “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (Job 1) – ensures life is preserved and protected at all costs, in line with the Hippocratic Oath – save lives and abstain from harm.

Answer 2

• By forcing one to live will a terminal illness where the QoL is non-existent, we are stripping individuals of their autonomy. In his 1954 book, ‘Morals and Medicine’ Fletcher argues a patient’s medical condition has to be the starting point; not absolute rules PERSONALISM • Ronald Dworkin, in ‘Life Dominion’, points out that life is a gift, not a burden; sanctity encompasses preservation but also a high quality – Dianne Petty 2002 Motor Neurone disease, denied the right to die thus lived a low quality of life forcing people to stay alive disrespects not only their autonomy, but the sanctity of their life, as its quality diminishes R: SLIPPERY SLOPE, STABLE SOCIETY

Answer 3

• Many argue it is impossible to judge when life becomes worthless; people may be coerced into thinking their life is of a diminished quality. Pope Paul in Evangelium Vitae argued legalising euthanasia results in devaluing human life and a culture of death – Nazi eugenics programme.

Answer 4

* Helga Kushe, a utilitarian philosopher, has argued that in the Netherlands the slippery slope does not occur as euthanasia is regulated by legal practise – the example of Nazi eugenics would not occur in democratic societies and is an extreme case. * By following the values commonly applied to medical ethics, Benefice (acting in the best interests of the patient) and non-maleficence (first, do no harm), one can see that Diane Petty should have been allowed the right to die – religious deontological morality jeopordises the interests of patients in favour of moral absolutes; leads to puritanism.

Answer 5

* Better to act in a deontological way as not all patients can express their interests or of a sound mind due to an illness – Tony bland PVS, impossible to act according to his best interests * Jonathan Glover, in ‘Causing Death and Saving Lives’ has argued that if they are making the decision in a diminished mental state then they are not truly autonomous the decision must be “properly thought out, not merely the result of a temporary emotional state. Patients may not be able to decipher their best interests as the illness may bring about confusion or depression, which could be temporary when the impact of euthanasia is permanent. * By providing them with palliative care we avoid involuntary euthanasia, which may or may not go against the will of the patient.

Answer 6

* SIX PROPOSITIONS: Clearly there are many cases of euthanasia, thus highlighting we cannot act in accordance to absolute rules – must act situationally, following the principle of agape: charitable, unconditional love. “Justice is love distributed” – tough love. * Peter Singer offers an instrumentalist view of the body, arguing it is useful insofar as it allows for preferences and desires to be fulfilled – no intrinsic worth and to think so leads to immoral and inhumane decision making

Answer 7

* Actions can have complex and unforeseen consequences, and therefore must be judged on intended effects. If a doctor attempts to treat a terminally ill patient with painkiller in order to remove their pain, yet the patient dies as a result, Aquinas would argue they had not committed an immoral act as the consequence was unintended. * Gerard J. Hughes suggests in his book "Christian Ethics: An introduction" (1998) that Natural Law is intimately in tune with human nature and by focusing on following conscience and practical reason allows a margin for error as long as intentions were to follow good.

Answer 8

• Not only is DE arguably an impractical aspect of the theory (insofar as intentions can never be proven) it also seems rather contradictory to the theory’s deontological rooting Surely Double Effect highlights the issue with absolute moral principles – one should always act depending upon the situation and reject “prefabricated and prescriptive rules”

Answer 9

* Right to die a dignified death. John Stuart Mill, in his essay ‘On Liberty’ argues that, “over himself, over his body and mind, the individual is sovereign”. * Liberal principle – humans are the best judge of their own happiness; they should be given maximum freedom to live their lives as they consider appropriate

Answer 10

• Indeed Natural Law is so effective because ensures the preservation of a stable society – legally allowing people to take their lives could not only run the risk of involuntary euthanasia and murder, it marginalised the weak and ranks society in terms of qualities of life, when all life is sacred! Arguably society is better able to judge the best interests of a patient.

Answer 11

• A stable society is not one which prevents people from making choices about their own life and death. We should apply the Golden Rule and principle of agape love, situationally, in order to make most ethical and humane decisions

Answer 12

A: Sanctity of life : Vitalist principle = gift from God, intrinsically valuable, “in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1), “The lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (Job 1) human life respected. Hippocratic oath – save lives and abstain from harm.

Answer 13

Creating harm by forcing people to stay alive whilst in pain (against HO). Ronald Dworkin in ‘Life Dominion’ points out that life is a gift, not a burden, and sanctity of life should indeed encompass preservation of life, but also a high quality of life. Thus the Higher Qualities argument can be used to highlight that someone in PVS should be allowed to die as they lack basic abilities and thus have no quality of life. Peter Singer – body is useful insofar as it allows for preferences and desires – no longer useful when terminally ill… (Tony Bland Hillsborough football stadium)

Answer 14

Aquinas explains God-given primary precepts ensure duty to God, lead to flourishing and summum bonum – suicide is blasphemy as denies gift of love. King Saul and Judas condemned in Bible. Euthanasia evidently goes against preservation of life so not permitted in any circumstance – clear and simple

Answer 15

In todays secular society it seems illogical to prevent people from dignified deaths through metaphysical hopes and fears of an afterlife instead be focusing on human experience in the here and now. Behaving in accordance to strict guidelines may lead to least ethical action i.e. keeping someone alive who is in constant, incredible pain!

Answer 16

: How can we judge quality of life – if there are no clear laws, it is not evident when life becomes worthless. Pope Paul, in Evangelium Vitae, argued legalising euthanasia results in devaluing of human life and a culture of death. Nazi eugenics.

Answer 17

: Helga Kushe and Netherlands, slippery slope does not occur as it is regulated by legal practise. Values commonly applied to medical ethics: Benefice – acting in the best interest of the patient, Non-maleficence – “first do not harm”

Answer 18

: Better to approach issues of euthanasia in a deontological way because, for example, if one is in a PVS we cannot determine whether they wish to die or not. Jonathan Glover, in ‘Causing Death and Saving Lives’ has argued an external judgement on quality of life as well as MENTAL STATE must be made – if they are making the decision in a diminished mental state then they are not truly autonomous the decision must be “properly thought out, not merely the result of a temporary emotional state. Patients may not be able to decipher their best interests as the illness may bring about confusion or depression, which could be temporary when the impact of euthanasia is permanent. By providing them with palliative care we avoid involuntary euthanasia, which may or may not go against the will of the patient.

Answer 19

: Indeed, not all patients can be autonomous, however surely if a patient cannot express their desires as they are in a PVS, the most pragmatic and resourceful thing to do would be to end their lives anyway? Waste of resources to keep someone alive who is brain dead. They have no autonomy, so we cannot be going against their interests.

Answer 20

Autonomy: Right to die a dignified death. John Stuart Mill, in his essay ‘On Liberty’ argues that, “over himself, over his body and mind, the individual is sovereign”. Liberal principle – humans are the best judges of their own happiness; they should be given maximum freedom to live their lives’ as they consider appropriate. Diane Petty 2002 Motor Neurone disease.

Answer 21

Indeed Natural Law is so effective because ensures the preservation of a stable society – legally allowing people to take their lives could not only run the risk of involuntary euthanasia and murder, it marginalised the weak and ranks society in terms of qualities of life, when all life is sacred! Arguably society is better able to judge the best interests of a patient.

Answer 22

Personalism: By forcing one to live will a terminal illness where the QoL is non-existent, we are stripping individuals of their autonomy. In his 1954 book, ‘Morals and Medicine’ he argues a patient’s medical condition has to be the starting point; not absolute rules. Jonathan Glover: instrumentalist view of the body. A stable society is not one which prevents people from making choices about their own life and death. We should apply the Golden Rule and principle of agape love, situationally, in order to make most ethical and humane decisions “love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively” Situation ethics works better for both theists and atheists – atheists able to make decision based on quality of life not on rigid laws set by a God they do not believe in. For theists it also works as a loving God would not encourage prolonging pain and suffering.

Answer 23

• Vitalist principle – life is a gift from God, thus intrinsically valuable, “in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1). Only God can choose when to end a life, “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (Job 1) – ensures life is preserved and protected at all costs (PRIMARY PRECEPTS), in line with the Hippocratic Oath – save lives and abstain from harm both active and passive would go against this

Answer 24

• Dianne Petty 2002 Motor Neurone disease, denied the right to die thus lived a low quality of life passive euthanasia allows a natural death, may be preventing God’s plan if we force them to stay alive artificially. Voluntary and passive euthanasia respects God’s gift by allowing life to end before it deteriorates.

Answer 25

• Pope Paul in Evangelium Vitae argued legalising euthanasia results in devaluing human life and a culture of death – Nazi eugenics programme both active and passive rejects God’s gift of life

Answer 26

* Ronald Dworkin, in ‘Life Dominion’, points out that life is a gift, not a burden; sanctity encompasses preservation but also a high quality * Peter Singer offers an instrumentalist view of the body, arguing it is useful insofar as it allows for preferences and desires to be fulfilled – no intrinsic worth and to think so leads to immoral and inhumane decision making

Answer 27

* SIX PROPOSITIONS: Clearly there are many cases of euthanasia, thus highlighting we cannot act in accordance to absolute rules – must act situationally, following the principle of agape: charitable, unconditional love. “Justice is love distributed” – tough love passive may be the most loving thing to do * Peter Singer offers an instrumentalist view of the body, arguing it is useful insofar as it allows for preferences and desires to be fulfilled – no intrinsic worth and to think so leads to immoral and inhumane decision making

Answer 28

* Better to act in a deontological way as not all patients can express their interests or of a sound mind due to an illness – Tony bland PVS, impossible to act according to his best interests * Jonathan Glover, in ‘Causing Death and Saving Lives’ has argued that if they are making the decision in a diminished mental state then they are not truly autonomous the decision must be “properly thought out, not merely the result of a temporary emotional state. Patients may not be able to decipher their best interests as the illness may bring about confusion or depression, which could be temporary when the impact of euthanasia is permanent. * By providing them with palliative care we avoid involuntary euthanasia, which may or may not go against the will of the patient

Answer 29

* Actions can have complex and unforeseen consequences, and therefore must be judged on intended effects. If a doctor attempts to treat a terminally ill patient with painkiller in order to remove their pain, yet the patient dies as a result, Aquinas would argue they had not committed an immoral act as the consequence was unintended. * Gerard J. Hughes suggests in his book "Christian Ethics: An introduction" (1998) that Natural Law is intimately in tune with human nature and by focusing on following conscience and practical reason allows a margin for error as long as intentions were to follow good.

Answer 30

• Not only is DE arguably an impractical aspect of the theory (insofar as intentions can never be proven) it also seems rather contradictory to the theory’s deontological rooting Surely Double Effect highlights the issue with absolute moral principles – one should always act depending upon the situation and reject “prefabricated and prescriptive rules”

Answer 31

* Right to die a dignified death. John Stuart Mill, in his essay ‘On Liberty’ argues that, “over himself, over his body and mind, the individual is sovereign”. * Liberal principle – humans are the best judge of their own happiness; they should be given maximum freedom to live their lives as they consider appropriate

Answer 32

• Indeed Natural Law is so effective because ensures the preservation of a stable society – legally allowing people to take their lives could not only run the risk of involuntary euthanasia and murder, it marginalised the weak and ranks society in terms of qualities of life, when all life is sacred! Arguably society is better able to judge the best interests of a patient.

Answer 33

• A stable society is not one which prevents people from making choices about their own life and death. We should apply the Golden Rule and principle of agape love, situationally, in order to make most ethical and humane decisions

Topic 5 - Euthanasia Flashcards

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