Theology - Euthanasia

Euthanasia

• Directly translated from Ancient Greek as ‘die well’

• Deliberate act of ending a person’s life to relieve persistent, incurable pain and suffering

Active Euthanasia

Someone (ie relative or doctor) brings about another persons death for their benefit at their request

Passive Euthanasia

Someone (usually a doctor) allows another person to die painlessly by withdrawing medical treatment, indirectly bringing about that person’s death

Voluntary Euthanasia

When a person’s life is ended at their request or with their consent

Involuntary Euthanasia

When a person’s life is ended without their knowledge or consent

Non-voluntary Euthanasia

When a person’s life is ended without their consent but with the consent of someone representing their interests (ie a relative), usually when someone is in PVS

Permanent Vegetative State (PVS)

A chronic, often irreversible condition where a patient demonstrates no awareness of themselves or their environment

Sanctity of Life (SoL)

The belief that human life is sacred, usually justified due to being made in God’s image

Sanctity of Life Bible quotes

• “So God created mankind in his own image, imago dei” - Genesis 1:27; human life is sacred

• “You shall not commit murder” - Exodus 20, 10 commandments; no human has right to take life

• ‘The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” - Job 1:21; only God can give and take life

Difference between strong vs weak SoL

• Strong SoL = all life must be preserved at all costs, gift from God

• Weak SoL = life held in high regard, but flexible in terms of ending life when deemed no longer as a blessing

Quality of Life (QoL)

A way of weighing the extrinsic value/experience of life, used to justify when life is worth living or not

Slippery slope argument (anti-euthanasia)

Once you allow non-voluntary euthanasia, door opens for active euthanasia, opens door for involuntary euthanasia if certain lives begin to no longer be deemed worth living

Autonomy and right to die

The idea that human freedom should extend to decide the time and manner of death

Palliative care (anti-euthanasia)

End-of-life care to make the patient’s remaining moments of life as comfortable as possible

Glover’s 3 ‘side effects’ of allowing euthanasia

May lead to involuntary euthanasia (slippery slope)

Would discourage people, particularly the elderly, from going to hospital for treatment

Would detrimentally affect end of life palliative care

Glover pro-euthanasia quote

‘To refuse to provide help is a very serious denial of a person’s autonomy over the matter of his own life and death’

Natural law on euthanasia (anti-euthanasia)

Primary Precept - Preservation of Life; absolute rule of no killing

Doctrine of Double Effect; death of patient may be foreseen but not intended