3. Types
● Active: Performing an action which causes death.
● Passive: Not taking steps to prolong life.
● Voluntary: Patient request that their death be brought
about.
● Involuntary: The patient had expressed a wish to go on
living but it is judged to be in the patient's interest to die.
● Non-voluntary: The patient is incapable of expressing a
preference for death over life.
4. ● If
● Morally wrong
Is voluntary euthanasia morally permissible?
A patient requests it
It is un that patient’s interest
Would not be against the
right to life
Wrong to kill a person
Could have consequences worse than the killing
it would infringe someone else’s rights
➢ Can we be sure that the person’s expressed wish is genuine?
➢ Can we be sure that death is in the person’s interest?
➢ Can we judge what bad side effects there might be?
5. Is non-voluntary euthanasia morally wrong?
Two kinds of cases:
● Those who have been capable of making their own decisions, but are now incapable.
● Those who had never been capable of making their own decisions
➢ Permanent Vegetative State
➢ Life-support system
➢ Infants
6. Should voluntary euthanasia be legalised?
Possible bad consequences:
● Fears of patients going into hospital
● Pressure/guilt of the elderly
● Good terminal care won’t be provided
● Involuntary euthanasia
7. In which cases would a person consider voluntary
death? Should all the cases be admitted?
CAMI KOS
Terminal Cancer No treatment
Voluntary euthanasia
Mentally sane
Terrible pain
9. It is wrong to bring about someone's death
as a side-effect?
Not if...
● Goal: cause good effects
● One intends only good effects
● The bad effect is not the mean to achieve
the good effect
10. The right to life
Egoists everybody should further their long term interest right to life
Deontologist the right to life is an inalienable right
cannot legitimately be taken away by another individual or
group
The question of whether mas has or has not a right to life raises many serious
moral problems. abortion
euthanasia
animal rights
