Euthanasia

What is voluntary euthanasia?

• when someone helps another to end their life

• terminal/incurable illness

• suffering endlessly

• illegal in the UK

What is non-voluntary euthanasia?

• when a person’s life is ended without their permission

• life support/PVS

• legal in the UK

Arguments to support voluntary euthanasia

• die with dignity - Quality of Life argument

• free will - independent decisions about their lives

• painless - provides more comfort

• principle of utility

Arguments to challenge voluntary euthanasia

• patient could be exploited for money

• slippery slope argument - feeling like a burden

• miracles - a cure could be found

• sanctity of life

• imago dei - goes against God’s will

How do you define the ‘strong sanctity of life’ and what are its implications?

All human life is sacred, a God-given gift that only God can take away

• life is set apart by God

• humans depend on God for their lives

• all human life is of equal worth

What does the Strong SofL argument mean in terms of Euthanasia?

• euthanasia is always morally wrong

• taking a life seen as ‘playing God’, which humans have no right to do

• life must be preserved regardless of quality - its value is inherenet

How do you define the ‘Weak sanctity of life’ argument and what are its two main implications?

Life is valuable but not inviolable - can be ended to prevent suffering or uphold autonomy

• no one has a duty to endure a life of pain

• life is a gift, not a burden

What does the weak SofL argument mean in terms of euthanasia

• life is valuable, but not absolutely sacred

• morally acceptable to end life in certain circumstances

• emphasises compassion and mercy over strict rules

What is Peter Singer’s speciesism?

• if you have personhood, you have the ability to make rational, autonomous decisions

  • determines your value

• e.g. a chimpanzee has more value than a human in a vegetative state or a human baby

What does the ‘Quality of Life’ argument mean?

• value of a person’s life not solely determined by whether they are alive, but conditions and experiences they have

In terms of euthanasia…

• life is not worth preserving if it is unbearably painful

Strengths of QofL argument

• prevents unnecessary suffering

• grants autonomy and personal choice

• compassionate relief

Weaknesses of QofL argument

• slippery slope argument

• possibility of recovery

• subjectivity of ‘quality’

What are the strengths of applying NL to euthanasia?

• SofL reinforces human dignity

• protects the vulnerable - prevents exploitation

• encourages alternative care

• primary precepts offer firm basis against euthanasia

What are the weaknesses of applying NL to euthanasia?

• euthanasia is only an apparent good

• duty of a doctor to preserve life: Hippocratic oath

• playing God - NL doesn’t provide clear guidance on extent of medical intervention

What are the strengths of applying SE to euthanasia?

• flexible - not absolutist

• respects patient’s autonomy

• emphasises QofL, personal dignity and autonomy

• shows compassion to individuals in pain

• agape more inclusive of a variety of faiths

What are the weaknesses of applying SE to euthanasia?

• can it ever really be loving to kill someone?

• subjective - inconsistency - no clear moral framework

• potential for abuse of vulnerable people

• emotional involvement may cloud judgement

What is John Stuart Mill’s ‘Liberal Principle’?

• liberty - main way that someone determines their values

• a liberal society aims to maximise personal freedoms

• taking one’s life is a matter of personal autonomy

• only reason for interference would be if doing so caused harm to others

What is the problem with John Stuart Mill’s ‘Liberal Principle’?

• allows for paternalism

• how is harm to be determined?

What is Jonathan Glover’s approach to euthanasia?

• being alive not sufficient reason for life being valuable

• worthwhile life is conscious

• killing a life is not in itself wrong, it is only wrong if that life is conscious

Which definition of euthanasia does the case of Tony Bland (1993) support?

• passive euthanasia

• doctors withdrew artificial nutrition and hydration

Which definition of euthanasia does the case of Diane Pretty (2002) support?