Transcript Euthanasia

Euthanasia
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
Introduction
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1.
2.
Increasingly,
Americans die in
medical facilities:
85% of Americans die
in some kind of
health-care facility
(hospitals, nursing
homes, hospices etc.);
Of this group, 70%
(which is equivalent
to almost 60% of the
population as a
whole) choose to
withhold some kind
of life-sustaining
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
treatment
Some Initial
Distinctions
• Active vs.
Passive
Euthanasia
• Voluntary, Nonvoluntary, and
Involuntary
Euthanasia
• Assisted vs.
Unassisted
Euthanasia
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
What are we striving
for?
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•
1.
2.
3.
4.
Euthanasia
means “a good
death,” “dying
well”
What is a “good
death”?
Peaceful
Painless
Lucid
With loved ones
gathered around
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
Voluntary Non-Voluntary,
and Involuntary
Euthanasia
• Voluntary: patient
chooses to be put to
death
• Non-Voluntary:
patient is unable
to make a choice
at all
• Involuntary:
patient chooses
not to be put to
death, but is
anyway
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
Assisted vs. Unassisted
Euthanasia
• Many patients who
want to die are
unable to do so
without assistance.
• Some who are able
to assist themselves
commit suicide
with guns, etc.
Ways that are
much harder and
difficult for those
who are left
behind.
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
Active vs. Passive
Euthanasia
• Active Euthanasia
occurs in those
instances in which
someone takes active
means, such as a
lethal injection, to
bring about someone’s
death;
• Passive Euthanasia
occurs in those
instances in which
someone simply refuses
to intervene in order
to prevent someone’s
death.
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
Active Euthanasia
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1.
2.
3.
Typical case for active
euthanasia:
There is no doubt that
the patient will die
soon.
The option of passive
euthanasia causes
significantly more pain
for the patient and
family than active
euthanasia and does
nothing to enhance the
remaining life of the
patient.
Passive measures will
not bring about the
death of a patient.
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
The Changing Medical
Situation
• Until the 1940’s,
medical care was
often just comfort
care, alleviating pain
when possible.
• During the last 50+
years, medicine has
become increasingly
capable of postponing
death.
• Increasingly, we are
forced to choose
whether to allow
ourselves to die.
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
Compassion for
Suffering
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1.
2.
3.
4.
The larger question
in many of these
situations is: how do
we respond to
suffering?
Hospice and
palliative care.
Aggressive painkilling medications.
Sitting with the
dying.
Euthanasia.
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
The Sanctity of Life
• Life is a gift from
God
• Respect for life is a
“seamless
garment”
• Importance of
ministering to the
sick and dying
• See life as
“priceless” (Kant)
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
The Right to Die
•
1.
2.
•
•
Do we have a right to
die?
Negative right (others
may not interfere)
Positive right (others
must help)
Do we own our own
bodies and our lives?
If we do, does that give
us the right to do what
we we want with them?
Isn’t it cruel to let
people suffer
pointlessly?
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol
The Right to Die (cont.)
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Special danger to
undervalued
groups in our
society
The Elderly
Minorities
Persons with
disabilities
Groups that are
typically
discriminated
against
Rhea Jack and Rhona Nicol