Bioethics: Abortion and Euthanasia Lecture Notes

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the ethical arguments surrounding abortion, various forms of euthanasia, and standards for end-of-life care.

Liberal Position on Abortion

A stance on abortion supported by three main arguments: the "Negative Consequences" argument, the "Woman's Right to Choose" argument, and the "Value of a Fetal Life" argument.

Negative Consequences Argument

One of the three main arguments in favor of the Liberal Position on abortion, focusing on the detrimental outcomes of restricting access.

Woman's Right to Choose Argument

A core argument for the Liberal Position on abortion founded on the principle of bodily autonomy.

Right to Life Argument

An argument regarding the moral status of the fetus; J.J. Thomson offers an objection to its application in all cases of abortion.

J.J. Thomson's Objection

A response to the "Right to Life" argument that uses a basic thought experiment to show that the right to life does not necessarily include a right to use another person's body.

Value of a Fetal Life Argument

An argument discussing the inherent worth or moral standing of a fetus within the debate on abortion.

Problem of Infanticide

A challenge to the Liberal Position on abortion that asks why the logic used to justify abortion would not also justify the killing of infants.

Euthanasia

The practice of intentionally ending a life, typically to relieve pain and suffering.

Voluntary Euthanasia

Euthanasia performed at the request of the patient.

Non-voluntary Euthanasia

Euthanasia performed when the patient is unable to give consent, such as when they are in a coma or otherwise incompetent.

Involuntary Euthanasia

Euthanasia performed against the expressed wishes of the patient.

Principle of Non-maleficence

The ethical duty to "do no harm," which may conflict with the practice of euthanasia.

Active Euthanasia

Intentionally causing a patient's death through a direct action, such as administering a lethal injection.

Passive Euthanasia

Allowing a patient to die by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.

Acts vs. Omissions Doctrine

The moral distinction between performing an action (commission) and failing to act (omission).

Act of Commission

A direct action taken by an individual to bring about a result.

Act of Omission

A failure to act or an instance of letting something happen rather than causing it directly.

Rachel's counterexample

An argument designed to show that the distinction between killing and letting die (active vs. passive) is of no moral significance.

Brock's counterexample

A specific case used to challenge the moral significance of the distinction between active and passive euthanasia.

Controlled Quality of Life

Considerations used to evaluate whether a patient's life is worth continuing based on its expected quality.

Best Interests Standard

A decision-making guideline that focuses on what would be most beneficial for a patient when their own wishes are not known.

Substituted Judgment Standard

A decision-making guideline where a surrogate determines what choice an incompetent patient would have made if they were competent.

Withholding vs. Withdrawing

A medical distinction between not starting a life-sustaining treatment versus stopping a treatment that is already in progress.