I N T R O D U C T I O N

euthanasia

euthanasia

euthanasia

definitions

Euthanasia is the act of deliberately bringing about a death for humane reasons.

Voluntary euthanasia is euthanasia at the patient’s request.

Involuntary euthanasia is euthanasia against the patient’s request.

Non-voluntary euthanasia is euthanasia where the patient has not made a request either way.

definitions

Euthanasia is the act of deliberately bringing about a death for humane reasons.

Active euthanasia is killing for humane reasons.Passive euthanasia is letting die for human reasons.

the ama statement on euthanasia

The intentional terminations of the life of one human being by another – mercy killing – is contrary to that for which the medical profession stands and is contrary to the policy of the American Medical Association. The cessation of the employment of extraordinary means to prolong the life of the body when there is irrefutable evidence that death is imminent is the decision of the patient and/or his immediate family, the advice and judgment of the physician should be freely available to the patient and/or his immediate family.

utilitarianism

utilitarianism

The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure… pleasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends; and that all desirable things are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain.

-J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism

utilitarianism

Utilitarianism: The only thing of intrinsic value is pleasure (happiness) and the only thing of intrinsic disvalue is pain (unhappiness). An act is right iff it maximizes the overall ratio of pleasure to pain.

the utilitarian argument

1. Killing Jack would maximize the overall ratio of pleasure to pain.

2. If (1), then killing Jack would be right. 3. [So] Killing Jack would be right.

the best interests argument

1. If Jack wants to die (and the relevant parties agree), then killing him would be in everyone’s best interests (i.e., it would maximize the overall ratio of pleasure to pain without violating anyone’s rights).

2. If killing Jack would be in everyone’s best interests, then it would be right.

3. [So] If Jack wants to die (and the relevant parties agree), then killing him would be right.