Types of euthanasia

Some key distinctions:

• Voluntary — at the person own request.
• Non-voluntary — the person cannot consent (e.g. in a coma).
• Involuntary — against the person will (widely regarded as murder).
• Active — deliberately doing something to cause death; passive — withdrawing or withholding treatment.
• Assisted dying / suicide — helping someone end their own life.

Voluntary euthanasia

The sanctity of life

The sanctity of life view holds that human life is intrinsically sacred and God-given.

• Humans are made in the image of God, giving each life inviolable worth.
• Life is a gift; only God has the right to give and take it, so deliberately ending an innocent life is wrong.
• This view (strong in Catholic teaching) generally opposes euthanasia.

Sanctity of life

Quality of life and autonomy

The quality of life view judges a life by its condition, not its mere existence.

• It stresses autonomy — a person right to self-determination over their own body and death.
• It stresses dignity and freedom from pointless suffering.
• Some argue what matters is personhood (rational, relational life), not biological life alone.

Tension: autonomy and compassion pull toward allowing euthanasia; sanctity of life and 'slippery slope' fears pull against it.

Which argument?

Tap a claim, then whether it supports sanctity of life or quality of life.

Natural Law and Kant applied

Natural Law: preservation of life is a primary precept, so it opposes euthanasia. But the doctrine of double effect permits giving pain relief that may shorten life, since the intention is to relieve pain, not to kill.

Kant: we should respect rational autonomy, yet we must never treat a person (including oneself) merely as a means; Kant thought we have a duty to preserve rational life, so he would generally oppose euthanasia.

Double effect and euthanasia

Situation Ethics and utilitarianism applied

Situation Ethics: the only question is what is the most loving act. Fletcher supported voluntary euthanasia in some cases, valuing personhood and compassion over the mere prolonging of biological life.

Utilitarianism: weigh the suffering against any happiness. Where suffering is great and irreversible, utilitarians often permit euthanasia — though rule utilitarians worry about the wider effects of legalising it.

Slippery slope: a common worry is that permitting voluntary euthanasia could lead to pressure on the vulnerable or to non-voluntary killing.

Theory and stance

Tap a theory, then how it tends to treat euthanasia.

Situation Ethics applied

The big ideas to take into the exam

Euthanasia shows the ethical theories in action on a life-and-death issue. Press Finish.