Professional Documents
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CH 5 and 6
CH 5 and 6
CATEGORIES OF EUTHANASIA
1. Active and Voluntary Euthanasia IS EUTHANASIA MORAL?
o Is one in which either a physician, spouse, or a friend o Violation of the Natural Moral Law
of the patient will terminate the latter’s life upon the o Contrary to the Ultimate Author of LIFE
latter’s request.
o It is Voluntary - it is requested by the patient
o It is Active - positive means is used to terminate the
patients life. DIFFERENT VIEWS
T. Gary Williams
2. Active and Non-Voluntary Euthanasia o Considered euthanasia to be morally wrong firstly because
o the physician, spouse, close friend, or relative who it is an intentional killing and opposes the Natural Moral
decides that the life of the terminally ill patient should Laws
be terminated. o Euthanasia maybe performed for purposes of self-interest
o Active - positive method is utilized to terminate the or other consequences.
patient’s life
o Non-voluntary - the termination of the patient’s life is
decided by an individual other than the patient James Rachel
o Opts for euthanasia insofar as it allows suffering to be
3. Passive and Voluntary Euthanasia brought to an speedy end.
o Is one in which a terminally ill patient is simply o Depends on the motives and circumstances under which it
allowed to die by the physician, spouse, or an takes place.
immediate relative, upon the patient’s request. o If the intentions and situations are of a certain kind, then
o Passive - no positive method is employed active euthanasia can be deemed morally right.
o Voluntary - insofar as this is done upon the patient’s
request
Philippa Foot
4. Passive and Non-Voluntary Euthanasia o Endorses both active and passive euthanasia if the patient
o Is one in which a terminally ill patient is simply allow gives CONSENT.
to die, as requested by immediate family members, o Both active and passive voluntary euthanasia can be
(spouse or parents) or the attending physician. endorsed and regarded as legitimate and justified.
o PASSIVE - no positive means is employed to end the
patient’s life.
Richard Brandt
o Applies Ross’s notion of prima facie duty not to injure
ORTHOTHANASIA
others o Refers to the mere allowing and acceptance of natural
o If someone is in an irreversible coma, the patient is death in its definitely inescapable occurrence in due time
considered to be beyond injury as the final moment of one’s early life.
o Not to follow such a wish would be remiss in our prima
facie obligation to keep others from further harm or more
pain. What is the Difference between Euthanasia by
Omission and Orthothanasia?
o In Euthanasia by Omission, the Extraordinary means
and Ordinary means of care of the patient are
APPLICATION OF ETHICAL withdrawn
THEORIES o In Orthothanasia, only the extraordinary means are
withheld.
Natural Law Ethics
o Condemns mercy killing
o Is intrinsically wrong it implies direct, and deliberate
killing of individual hence it is MURDER DYSTHANASIA
o Refers to undue prolongation of life and delay the
occurrence of natural death that lengthens the suffering of
Principle of Stewardship/ Inviolability the person.
o Disregard Mercy killing, we have the duty to take care
of our self
UNDUE PROLONGATION OF LIFE & DELAY OF
NATURAL DEATH
Principle of Double effect o Indicates the use of artificial and medical means which
o Maybe legitimate under certain circumstance does not truly sustain life but rather delays the occurrence
o To give the relief of pain (direct outcome), indirect of irrevocable death.
outcome of the medication is shorten the patient’s life
may be MORALLY PERMITTED.
JOHN DONNE
o A means of liberating one self from exploitation and
Difference oppression, the prohibition of suicide is surreptitious
SUICIDE way of preventing the masses from escaping the task
o Take for granted one’s healthy physical condition.
o The individual who commits suicide for nonmedical
reasons is solely responsible for his or her own death. DAVID HUME (1711-1776)
o The removal of misery makes suicide morally
EUTHANASIA justifiable and permissible
o presupposes incurable ailment or terminal condition.
CONS of SUICIDE
St. AGUSTINE
o Suicide is a greater sin than any or other sins that
could be avoided by committing it.
o Self-murder is against the fifth commandment
(“Though shall Not Kill”)
o Suicide deprives one of the opportunity to repent
o It is an ignoble act which one attempts to escape the
ill of life