Study Guide on Death, Abortion, and Ethical Issues

A series of practice flashcards covering definitions and key concepts related to death, organ donation, and abortion ethics.

Whole Brain Death

The irreversible loss of functioning of the entire brain, including the brainstem.

Higher Brain Death

The irreversible loss of consciousness or cerebral cortex function.

Persistent Vegetative State (PVS)

A condition where an individual has severe cerebral cortex damage but the brainstem continues to function.

Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA)

The act stating that legal death is defined as whole brain death, applicable in all 50 states.

Dead Donor Rule

A principle requiring a person to be declared dead before their organs can be removed for transplant.

Metaphysical questions

Questions regarding the essence of existence, such as when we cease to exist.

Epistemic questions

Questions about how we know what we know, particularly in medical contexts.

Legal Blindness Analogy

A comparison illustrating that 'legal' states can exist without full biological criteria being met.

Brain Death

A legal status that may not equate to biological death, as suggested by Truog and Miller.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

A landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion based on the right to privacy.

Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)

The Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade and removed federal protections for abortion.

Sentience

The capacity for conscious experience, especially in relation to feeling pain or pleasure.

Line Drawing / Sorites Fallacy

A logical fallacy arguing that lack of a clear boundary means no distinction exists.

'Person' vs. 'Human Being'

'Human being' refers to biological classification, while 'person' refers to moral status.

Violinist Case

A thought experiment illustrating one's right to disconnect from a life-support situation.

Supererogatory

Actions that go above and beyond duty, not morally required but seen as morally good.

Blood Relative Objection

A counterargument suggesting biological relationship implies a moral obligation.

Minimally Decent Samaritanism

A standard of behavior requiring small sacrifices to aid others.

Deprivation Account (FLO)

The view that killing is wrong because it deprives someone of a valuable future.

Prima Facie

Latin for 'at first sight', indicating something is generally wrong but may be justified.

Contraception Objection

The argument that contraception is wrong because it prevents a being with a FLO from existing.

Personal Identity Objection

Challenges the notion that a pre-sentient fetus is the same individual as a person later on.

Qualitative vs. Numerical Identity

Qualitative identity refers to shared properties, while numerical identity refers to being the same entity.