CHECK: voluntary euthanasia:

What did Hippocrates write regarding mercy killing?

Hippocrates wrote, "I will not prescribe a deadly drug to please someone, nor give advice that may cause his death." This reflects his belief that killing a patient contradicts what a doctor should do, as a doctor’s role is to heal and assist people in living a healthy life.

What is voluntary euthanasia?

Voluntary euthanasia is when a person's life is ended painlessly by a third party at their own request.

What factors should be considered before assisting voluntary euthanasia, according to Jonathan Glover (1977)?

According to Jonathan Glover, the following factors should be considered:

1. The helper should be convinced the decision is serious, properly thought through, and not the result of a temporary state.

2. The helper should think the decision is reasonable. If the person thinks their life is not worth living but the helper thinks otherwise, it requires further discussion.

3. The circumstances in which the request comes need considering. Are they liable to change, or will suicide never be possible without assistance?

What did Glover argue about refusing to assist in voluntary euthanasia?

Glover argued, "To refuse to provide help is a very serious denial of the person's autonomy over the matter of his own life and death, and is only to be justified by appealing to either the future quality of his life or to side effects" (Glover, Causing Deaths and Saving Lives, 1977, p.184).

What is the distinction Glover makes regarding voluntary euthanasia?

Glover distinguishes between situations where the person commits the final act themselves (e.g., taking pills a helper has provided) and where another person commits the final act (e.g., administering a lethal injection).

In what circumstances might a person request voluntary euthanasia?

Voluntary euthanasia may be requested in cases of progressive paralysis, loss of bodily function control, deteriorating communication abilities, or when the person is experiencing serious distress and considers their life not worth living.

What does Glover question about the reliability of euthanasia requests?

Glover questions whether we can reliably know how committed a person is to such a request, given their pain, suggesting that it may be impossible to be truly sure about what a person wants in a neutral sense.

Why do some people campaign for voluntary euthanasia?

Campaigners for voluntary euthanasia seek a medically-assisted, reliable, and safe alternative to violent or unreliable suicide methods, allowing people to die with medical supervision either in a hospital or at home.

What is the concern of voluntary euthanasia campaigners regarding physical deterioration?

Campaigners are concerned that physical deterioration may eventually make it impossible to easily choose suicide without assistance. Voluntary euthanasia allows people to enjoy life until they can no longer act autonomously.

What are the legal concerns surrounding voluntary euthanasia?

Legal concerns include potential prosecution for family and friends who assist a person seeking death, such as taking them to a region where euthanasia is legal.

What is the most common method of voluntary euthanasia?

Voluntary euthanasia is most commonly carried out through the use of lethal medicines that actively stop life (active euthanasia).

What are the three common reasons given for not permitting voluntary euthanasia, according to Glover?

The three reasons are:

1. Allowing voluntary euthanasia could lead to involuntary euthanasia, as seen in Nazi Germany where people were "euthanatized" if they had serious illnesses or disabilities.

2. Allowing voluntary euthanasia could discourage people from seeking hospital treatment.

3. Allowing voluntary euthanasia could negatively affect end-of-life palliative care, shifting focus from comfort to decisions about ending life.

How does Glover respond to the three common reasons against voluntary euthanasia?

Glover rejects all three reasons:

1. He suggests the Nazi policy was driven by an evil ideology, not voluntary euthanasia campaigns.

2. He argues we cannot assume that people would fear going to the hospital due to voluntary euthanasia.

3. He believes that thoughts of ending life are unlikely to detract from efforts to comfort the patient.

What concern does Glover raise regarding treatment, especially for the elderly?

Glover raises concerns about treatment for the elderly, with media focusing on fears about treatment and the standardization of withdrawing care. The Liverpool Pathway case, where people were not properly cared for, is cited as an example.

What is Glover's conclusion on voluntary euthanasia?

Glover concludes that while voluntary euthanasia may be morally permissible in principle, it should be subject to side effects, and any system must be carefully devised. He argues that performing voluntary euthanasia outside a legal process is wrong due to the potential danger and risk of wrongful murder accusations.

What do Mary Warnock and Elisabeth Macdonald argue about voluntary euthanasia?

Mary Warnock and Elisabeth Macdonald agree with Glover, suggesting there may come a time when society will need to allow more people to experience an "easeful death," bringing compassion into laws governing the end of life.