These revision notes for the new OCR Religious Studies A level cover the issue of euthanasia. They cover the current legal situation in the UK, various arguments for and against, the approach of Christians and an application of all 4 ethical theories to the issue. They are detailed and are to an A*...
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5: Euthanasia
Suicide When a person dies as a direct result of their own action
Assisted When a person dies as a direct result of their own voluntary action but with another
suicide person's help
Physician When a person dies as a direct result of their own voluntary action with the help of a
aided suicide doctor
Voluntary When a person's death is caused by another person at their request and with consent
euthanasia
Passive When a doctor withdraws life-sustaining treatment which indirectly causes death
euthanasia
Non- When a person's life is ended without their consent but with the concept of their
voluntary representative perhaps because they are in a persistent vegetative state
euthanasia
Palliative The use of drugs to relieve pain which hastens death but does not directly cause it. Often
Care used in hospices to care for the terminally ill
1961 Suicide It is a crime for a person to commit suicide
Act Any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another or attempt by
another shall be liable for a term not exceeding 14 years
The right to The law recognises the right to life but not the right to die
self-
determination
Mental Allows a patient to appoint a representative with the power of attorney to instruct
Capacity Act doctors to stop giving treatment
2007
February 2010 Government guidelines state that those who help loved ones to die out of compassion
may not be prosecuted if the victim is in their right mind and asks for help to die. But
persuading or pressuring the victim to kill themselves, or benefiting from their death,
would encourage prosecution
Slippery Slope If the quality of life is grounds for euthanasia for those who request it, then it could be
Argument extended to those who do not request it
It is a hard thing to safeguard - some my die against their wishes
When is suffering unbearable? Or is it the fear of discomfort and loss of dignity which
terminal illnesses might bring that causes people to want to die
When does fighting for life become pointless?
Hippocratic Sworn by doctors who promise to protect and defend human life
Oath
Johnathan Believed that for a life to be worthwhile it must also be conscious
Glover
Bible Quotes 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away'
'Thou shalt not kill'
'Choose life so that you and your descendants might live'
'love is patient...it bears all things'
Strong Human life is always valuable from the moment of conception until natural death.
Sanctity of Euthanasia is always wrong without exception
Life Principle Life is set apart by God - humans are made in his image, we are set apart from animals
Life is a gift from God - God is the only one who should decide when life can be
terminated
An innocent life is always to be respected - we should honour God by respecting that life
Life is always to be protected and loved - just as Jesus' death was a sign of God's love for
the world, each person must sacrifice their wellbeing for the lives of others
Suicide is blasphemy - it dishonours God because it is a deliberate rejection of God's gift
of life and is a rejection of God's redemption
Weak Human life is always valuable but there may be situations where continuing it causes
Sanctity of more harm than good. Helping to end the life of an innocent person out of love is
Life Principle different from murder. No one has a duty to endure extreme pain. Life is a gift, not a
burden - life is given as a gift so we might take responsibility and dispose of it if we wish
Quality of Life States that human life has to possess certain attributes in order to have value
Principle
Peter Singer Rejected the sanctity of life principle in favour of the quality of life principle. He argues
that the worth of human life varies and people should respect others decisions to live or
die
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