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Euthanasia - Coggle Diagram
Euthanasia
four types of euthanasia
voluntary
asking for help to end life
involuntary
don't have the capacity to ask - reasonable belief you would want your life to end
active
when you take something to end your life
passsive
when something is removed that keeps you alive
Sanctity of Life vs Quality of Life
sanctity of life religious God
Imago Dei - image of God
preservation of life - found in genesis
quality of life is secular
as humans we need conditions to survive and thrive
examples
-Diane Pretty
degenerative disease
went to court multiple times to change the law but failed
Lynn Gilderdale
mum tried to end her life
Lynn was really ill and wanted her life to end
Applied topic
apply to situation ethics
euthanasia is the most loving thing to do
person might have a poor quality of life
teleological and relativist theory - have to look at each case individually
can't create a blanket law as each case is different
pragmatism can disagree with euthanasia
slippery slope arguement
strengths of using situation ethics
doing the most loving thing for a person would be to euthanise them - remove any pain and suffering they are in
frees a person from any religious aspect - anyone can apply the theory
links to personalism -peoples pain and quality of life are at the centre of the decision
allows for quality of life to be more important than sanctity of life
love is innately good - best for all society
weaknesses of using situation ethics
emotions can cloud judgement
different versions of love can give different outcomes and therefore bring different standards
relativist - applied to all situations differently
goes against religious legalistic teaching of 'do not kill' - which is found in most religions
sanctity of life below quality of life
apply to natural law
euthanasia is wrong because you are intervening to end life early
goes against the primary precepts - preservation of life
deontological viewpoint - killing in itself is wrong
real good is keeping the person alive
apparent good is committing euthanasia
can't achieve telos if euthanised (afterlife)
strengths applying Nature law
sanctity of life one quality of life
prevents the slippery slope from taking place as it gives clear laws that everyone has to abide by, so euthanasia can't be abused
follows God's teachings e.g the Ten Commandments which are part of the divine law as they are given by God
straightforward theory to apply to a controversial situation such as euthanasia
backs up the idea of sanctity of life - religious view but also ensures that human life is protected and respected
weaknesses applying natural law
doesn't give any free will - no way around the idea of euthanasia it is always seen as wrong
too basic and doesn't take into consideration emotions or the pain that someone might be in. it is too theory based and not practical enough
comes from a religious bias so it restricts the amount of people that can use it - not accessible or accepted by all - cannot create universal decisions
removes peoples autonomy and choice when making decisions and also puts sanctity of life above quality of life
to apply the theory you have to use reason - we cannot say that everyone reasons in the same way to reach a universal moral standard
Scholars
Peter Singer
infanticide - up to 28 days a baby is not classed as a person
if they do not bring happiness they can be removed
to be a person you have to be mentally stable and no cognitive disability
it is the deliberate ending of a life
in order to make the decision you need autonomy - free will