Euthanasia

Terms Voluntary Euthanasia (patient’s consent) Voluntary Euthanasia (patient’s consent) Involuntary euthanasia (no consent) Involuntary euthanasia (no consent) Active (you administer the drug yourself, or doctor does with your consent) Active (you administer the drug yourself, or doctor does with your consent) Passive (turn off a life support machine) Passive (turn off a life support machine) Q. What legal conditions would ensure active euthanasia was not abused?

Voluntary Euthanasia examples Dr Ruth Turner 2006 Dr Ruth Turner 2006 Daniel James 2008 Daniel James 2008 Diane Pretty 2003 (failed to get law changed, on appeal to European Court of Human Rights) Diane Pretty 2003 (failed to get law changed, on appeal to European Court of Human Rights) Note: on this site you can do a simulation of the Diane Pretty Court Case, taking different roles. You can also read the judges’ verdict.

Dr Ruth Turner : facts Diagnosed with PSP in 2004 Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Diagnosed with PSP in 2004 Progressive Supranuclear Palsy In 2006 opted to end her life at Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland In 2006 opted to end her life at Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland “Doctors should be permitted to help people die” she said “Doctors should be permitted to help people die” she said stm stm

Daniel James Rugby player Rugby player Paralysed 2007 Paralysed 2007 Sept 2008 chooses euthanasia with family’s consent Sept 2008 chooses euthanasia with family’s consent nt&view=category&layout=blog&id=53&Itemid=56 nt&view=category&layout=blog&id=53&Itemid=56 nt&view=category&layout=blog&id=53&Itemid=56 nt&view=category&layout=blog&id=53&Itemid=56

Oregon Rules 1994: Legalised Euthanasia in practice You must be resident in Oregon State You must be resident in Oregon State Patient given a prescription Patient given a prescription Must be administered yourself, unaided Must be administered yourself, unaided Two doctors confirm patient has under 6 months to live Two doctors confirm patient has under 6 months to live Patient must make two requests to die, 15 days apart Patient must make two requests to die, 15 days apart Two people must witness the requests, one cannot be a relative Two people must witness the requests, one cannot be a relative

Arguments for euthanasia Most loving outcome. Most loving outcome. Quality of life more important than sanctity of life. Quality of life more important than sanctity of life. Autonomy and freedom of individual. Autonomy and freedom of individual. Doctors already do it anyway. Doctors already do it anyway.

Arguments against Euthanasia Undue pressure on patients so “right to die becomes duty to die” Dr Andrew Davies BMA. Undue pressure on patients so “right to die becomes duty to die” Dr Andrew Davies BMA. Sanctity of life is violated. Sanctity of life is violated. Slippery slope, affects other areas of medical ethics. Slippery slope, affects other areas of medical ethics. Breaks Hippocratic oath and patient trust. Breaks Hippocratic oath and patient trust. “Good things can come from the last phase of a person’s life” Richard Harries Bishop of Oxford. “Good things can come from the last phase of a person’s life” Richard Harries Bishop of Oxford.

What the Philosophers say: Germain Grisez Natural law approach “good is to be done and evil avoided” Natural law approach “good is to be done and evil avoided” Basic goods are violated by euthanasia eg well being, life put second to freedom and dignity…but is this right? Basic goods are violated by euthanasia eg well being, life put second to freedom and dignity…but is this right?

Grisez is following the Roman Catholic view, see RC Catechism Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgement into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgement into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded. RC Catechism 2277 RC Catechism 2277

What the Philosophers say: Daniel Maguire Argues for proportionality Argues for proportionality Life is not an absolute good Life is not an absolute good We don’t “belong to God” We don’t “belong to God” When proportional benefit of death outweighs that of life, euthanasia justified When proportional benefit of death outweighs that of life, euthanasia justified Death by Choice, New York, Image Books 1984

What the Philosophers say: Peter Singer Quality of Life is key idea Quality of Life is key idea What makes us human is our autonomy and self-awareness. Take these away and moral question changes What makes us human is our autonomy and self-awareness. Take these away and moral question changes Individualistic focus: family and community not considered by Singer Individualistic focus: family and community not considered by Singer Rethinking Life and Death, OUP, 1994

What the Philosopher say: James Rachels There’s no difference between active and passive euthanasia There’s no difference between active and passive euthanasia Doctors regularly end life prematurely and mercifully by increasing drugs Doctors regularly end life prematurely and mercifully by increasing drugs “No harm was done to any other member of society, and it is none of their business” Rachels p96 “No harm was done to any other member of society, and it is none of their business” Rachels p96 The Elements of Moral Philosophy, New York, McGraw-Hill 2007

What would Utilitarians say? Read Rachels page 93-6 and explain your answer.

What would natural law theorists say? Roman Catholic catechism (statement of belief) says: Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgement into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgement into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded. RC Catechism 2277

What would Kantian say? CP 1 Universalise it: would you want right to die in Dr Ruth Turner’s situation? CP 1 Universalise it: would you want right to die in Dr Ruth Turner’s situation? CP 2 Treat people as ends not just as means. Should people have choice to die when they want? CP 2 Treat people as ends not just as means. Should people have choice to die when they want? CP3 Moral parliament: 63% of doctors oppose euthanasia. But how would you vote if voting hypothetically in a moral parliament when you don’t know how your life will turn out? CP3 Moral parliament: 63% of doctors oppose euthanasia. But how would you vote if voting hypothetically in a moral parliament when you don’t know how your life will turn out?

Evaluate the arguments for and against euthanasia. Which do you find most powerful and why?