PHIL 246 Study Guide - Euthanasia, Lifesaving, Daniel Callahan
Document Summary
Introduction to assisted death: ( munson: active vs. Nonvoluntary euthanasia: decision is not made by the person about to die: defining death, traditional- no heartbeat or breathing, whole brain no electrical activity in the brain, higher brain- permanent loss of consciousness. Brain stem can still be functioning (still have heartbeat: personhood- occurs when an individual ceases to be a person, the dutch experience. : ( made legal but must have certain safeguards: patient initiated request- patient must request euthanasia first, patient competence. Life is necessary for happiness therefore it is wrong to destroy life because any possibility of future happiness is lost. Rule utilitarianism says that the level of euthanasia can be subject to great abuse: kantian view an autonomous person has the duty to preserve life. We also have an inherent dignity, that if destroyed may relieve us of the right to preserve life.
