Non-Voluntary Euthanasia:

What is Non-Voluntary Euthanasia?

* The deliberate ending of someone’s life to relieve suffering without their consent but with the consent of the third party who is acting on their interest

Charlie Gard:

* An 11 months old boy who, due to his rare genetic condition, was unable to perform basic functions such as eating and breathing by himself and had no prospect of getting better
* The court went against the parents wishes to keep him alive and allowed the doctors to euthanise him in his best interest

\
Glover would agree with the court’s and the doctor’s decision as Gard’s QoL was poor, therefore he should be allowed to die with dignity

Dawkins (The God Delusion):

* Dawkins argues that denying NV euthanasia for humans is simply absurd
* Die to his materialist and heavily evolutionary perspective of humans, he states that there is no difference in euthanising an animal and a human as both are treated with merciful service, so it does not make sense as to why doctors are labelled as ‘murderers’ when allowing euthanasia for a patient

Locke’s view on NVE:

* Humans have no should and thus are no different from animals ad should be allowed to receive euthanasia

NVE Application to NL:

* Aquinas would find NVE to be unjustifiable as it does not follow the primary precept of the preservation of life, and thus can not help humans to reach god-like perfection and achieve their telos
* Allowing NVE is an irrational decision, thus inhibiting the development of our moral character if we choose to allow it
* Agreeing with NVE is an apparent good, as you are assuming that you are allowing the person to die with dignity when, in Aquinas’ view, relieving suffering does not lead to complete happiness, leading to Felicitas

\
* Strong argument because it is based on the Eternal law which derives from god and is unchanging and based on reason

Weakness of NL - Fletcher:

* Fletcher would accuse Aquinas of being guilty of ‘Ethical Idolatry’ as he takes too much of a legalistic approach, which would lead to ‘the headaches and heartbreaks of life’
* Instead we should follow personalism and uphold the interests of people above the law or only follow the law if it maximises agape

Overcoming Fletcher - Aquinas:

* Ethical idolatry is not taking place when following natural law as the laws come from the Eternal law which derives from god and are unchanging, universal and are based on reason, thus we should follow it as it would be the best guidance for ethical issues such as euthanasia, due to its divine nature