HPSC1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Voluntary Euthanasia, Euthanasia, Hippocratic Oath
24 May 2018
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Lecture 9: Euthanasia and infanticide
Pillow jobs
- Medical slang for process of killing a patient in a situation in which it seems that
prolonged life would be a burden through the use of a pillow to suffocate
- Some doctors believe that it is their duty to end suffering
- Hippocratic oath: I ill not gie a fatal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I suggest
any suh thing also prohiits aortion and surgery
Designed to both prolong and protect life and relieve suffering- contradiction
Where do ethical arguments come from?
- Technology that prolongs life e.g. life support machines
- The value of human life
- Utilitarian standards
- Principles of autonomy or individual rights? (conception of a good death and worthwhile
life)
Does a dotor hae a duty to aide y patient’s ishes?
Diogenes Laertius (3rd century) on the death of Zeno
- Under certain circumstances, the rational thing to do is to consider that your life is gone
as far as it could go in a good way, and from now on there is nothing left but pain and
suffering- therefore, you should die.
Suicide
- The basic case of self-killing. Is there any special moral issue raised by euthanasia that is
not raised by suicide?
Important distinctions
1. Assisted suicide and euthanasia (aid in dying
- Occurs when the act is performed by the individual themselves, though they may be
assisted by others in getting the means of death whereas euthanasia occurs when it is
performed by someone else
2. Active and passive euthanasia (killing v letting die)
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Medical slang for process of killing a patient in a situation in which it seems that prolonged life would be a burden through the use of a pillow to suffocate. Some doctors believe that it is their duty to end suffering. Hippocratic oath: (cid:862)i (cid:449)ill not gi(cid:448)e a fatal drug to anyone if i am asked, nor will i suggest any su(cid:272)h thing(cid:863) (cid:894)also prohi(cid:271)its a(cid:271)ortion and surgery(cid:895) Designed to both prolong and protect life and relieve suffering- contradiction. Technology that prolongs life e. g. life support machines. Principles of autonomy or individual rights? (conception of a good death and worthwhile life) Diogenes laertius (3rd century) on the death of zeno. Important distinctions: assisted suicide and euthanasia (aid in dying. Active euthanasia involves using lethal substances or force to cause death. Voluntary euthanasia: individual has requested to die, non-voluntary: another individual makes the decision for someone who cannot/ is no longer able to do so (especially controversial)
