Killing & Letting Die - Euthanasia · 2013. 9. 2. · Killing&LettingDie...

Killing & Letting Die

Killing & Letting DieEuthanasia

Dr. Clea F. Rees

ReesC17@cardiff.ac.uk

Centre for Lifelong LearningCardiff University

Autumn 2013

Killing & Letting DieOutline

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Principles & Distinctions

EuthanasiaRachels: Initial QuestionsKey Distinctions

Rachels on EuthanasiaArgumentationEvaluation

Killing & Letting DiePrinciples & Distinctions

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The Doctrine of Double EffectP may permissibly do A, foreseeing both good and bad effects iff1:1. A is not itself morally wrong;2. P intends the good effect but not the bad effect;3. the bad effect is not the means of producing the good effect;4. the good effect is sufficiently good to compensate for the

harm of the bad effect.

1‘iff’ means ‘if, and only if’

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Principles & DistinctionsThe Doctrine of Double Effect

ExampleA doctor may prescribe a drug to a terminally ill patient which willboth relieve pain and hasten death iff:1. prescribing pain medication is not wrong in itself;2. she intends to relieve pain but not to hasten death;3. the patient’s death is not the means of relieving the pain;4. the good of relieving the pain compensates for the harm of

hastening death.

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Acts vs. OmissionsA distinction between:

I acts which are actions one performs;and

I omissions which are failures to act.

Example

I Omitting to give a dying patient with pneumonia antibiotics.I Acting to bring about her death by giving her a lethal

injection for this purpose.

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Doing vs. AllowingA distinction between:

I what one does or brings about;and

I what one (merely) allows.

Example

I Allowing somebody to go hungry when one could have fedher.

I Bringing about her hunger by blowing up her pantry.

Rachels: Initial Questions

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EuthanasiaRachels: Initial Questions

What is Rachels’s main thesis or conclusion?

Rachels: Initial Questions

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EuthanasiaRachels: Initial Questions

Terminology (question 2):

Key Distinctions

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EuthanasiaKey Distinctions

Voluntary/Non-Voluntary/Involuntary Euthanasia

Voluntary: A brings about B’s death with B’s consent.Non-Voluntary: A brings about the death of B, who isunable to consent.Involuntary: A brings about B’s death against B’s wishes.

Key Distinctions

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Active/Passive Euthanasia

Active: A actively brings about B’sdeath.e.g. Beth administers a lethal injection

to David.Passive: A withholds or withdrawstreatment necessary to sustain B’slife.e.g. Ann does not call the crash team

when Jenny’s heart stops.e.g. Ann switches off Jenny’s

life-support machine.

Key Distinctions

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Active/Passive Euthanasia

Active: A actively brings about B’sdeath.e.g. Beth administers a lethal injection

to David.Passive: A withholds or withdrawstreatment necessary to sustain B’slife.e.g. Ann does not call the crash team

when Jenny’s heart stops.e.g. Ann switches off Jenny’s

life-support machine.

Key Distinctions

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Varieties of EuthanasiaVoluntary Non-Voluntary Involuntary

Active A actively ends B’s lifeB consents B cannot consent B refuses consent

Passive A ends B’s life by withholding/withdrawing treatmentB consents B cannot consent B refuses consent

Killing & Letting DieRachels on Euthanasia

Argumentation

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Rachels on EuthanasiaArgumentation

First argument (question 3):

Argumentation

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Argumentation

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Second argument (question 3):

Argumentation

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Treatment DecisionsBaby has Down’s? Baby has an intestinal blockage? Baby lives?

Argumentation

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Third argument (questions 3, 4):

Argumentation

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What’s meant to be analogous?I The six-year old’s death.

⇒ The patient’s death.I Smith’s killing the child.

⇒ Active euthanasia.I Jones’s letting the child die.

⇒ Passive euthanasia.

Does the analogy show there is no morally relevant differencebetween killing and letting die?

Argumentation

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Objections to, and defence of, the third argument (questions 5, 6):

Argumentation

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Arguments for the opposition (question 7):

Responses to those arguments (question 8):

Evaluation

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Rachels on EuthanasiaEvaluation

How good is Rachels’s argument?

Killing & Letting Die - Euthanasia · 2013. 9. 2. · Killing&LettingDie...

Documents

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MERCY KILLING IN INDIA: A JUDICIAL OVERVIEWthelawbrigade.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MERCY...‘euthanasia’ or ‘Mercy killing’. Euthanasia is mainly associated with people

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The T-4 Euthanasia Program Ayoub K.. What is euthanasia? Euthanasia is an “assisted suicide,” and the loosely used term, “mercy killing.” Basically it

What is Euthanasia? Slides: Reasons for Euthanasia..cont Arguments against Euthanasia Case Studies..cont Euthanasia Worldwide © Copyright 2005 | All Rights

INTRODUCTION euthanasia. definitions Euthanasia is the act of deliberately bringing about a death for humane reasons. Voluntary euthanasia is euthanasia

Euthanasia - St. Francis Preparatory School · 2017-08-14 · Euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from a painful disease or irreversible coma. This

b603 revision guide - Haslingden High School · 2018-08-13 · Euthanasia Definition: Euthanasia literally means ‘a gentle and easy death’. It is sometimes called mercy killing

Euthanasia - Colombia · citizen categories in Colombia. Life is treated by the legislator as a non legally protected good, ... killing, they respond to Hitler's and Stalin's ideas;