MORAL ISSUE OF

EUTHANASIA
Cerojales - Diola - Garcia - Habitan
Introduction
“LIVE YOUR LIFE AS IF NOTHING IS A MIRACLE OR EVERYTHING
WAS A MIRACLE” – ALBERT EINSTEIN

One of these is terminal illness with no hope or no signs of

recovery.

The urge to live and the concomitant fear of death are

instinctive to all living beings.

Death in any context was considered as an offence of the

highest nature and which results in the highest punishment.

Every person has been conferred of right to live, the right to live
has grown from a right against arbitrary termination of normal
life of someone already living example is murder, to a right
against other forms of termination of life example abortion,
suicide, euthanasia to a right against the prevention of
formation of life example contraception and sterilization.
 Meaning and Cases of
Euthanasia
Definition of Euthanasia

Meaning of euthanasia derived from Greek words: eu (meaning

"easy") and thanatos (meaning "death").

Definition: Deliberate, painless and peaceful death of an

individual suffering from an incurable and agonizing disease.

Commonly known as mercy killing, seen as a merciful release

from prolonged suffering.

Viewed as the practice of painlessly ending the life of someone

with a deformity or an unbearable and distressing disease.

Euthanasia affirms the right of individuals to die painlessly and

peacefully when faced with unbearable conditions such as
horrible disease, and the quality of his/her life deteriorates.
Classification of Euthanasia
Cases
A. Self-administered euthanasia
Ø the act of a terminally ill individual intentionally and actively causing their own death
with the purpose of ending their suffering.

1. Active (positive) euthanasia

® Definition: Terminally ill patient intentionally and directly ends their own life using
painless methods.
® Act of commission: Voluntary and deliberate action to terminate life.

2. Passive (negative) euthanasia

® Definition: Patient allows themselves to die by refusing medical treatment or life-
sustaining measures.
® Act of omission: Refrains from taking action to prolong life.
Classification of Euthanasia
Cases
B. Other-administered euthanasia
Ø the act of intentionally causing the death of a terminally ill individual by another person
or a healthcare professional.

1. Active and voluntary euthanasia

® Definition: Physician, spouse, or friend terminates the patient's life upon the patient's
request.
® Active: Positive means used to end the patient's life.
® Voluntary: Carried out based on patient's request or wish.

2. Passive and voluntary euthanasia

® Definition: Patient is allowed to die upon their request by the physician, spouse, or
immediate relative.
® Passive: No active measures taken to prolong life.
® Voluntary: Carried out based on patient's request or wish.
Classification of Euthanasia
Cases
3. Active and non-voluntary euthanasia
® Definition: Physician, spouse, friend, or relative decides to terminate the life of a
terminally ill patient.
® Active: Positive means used to end the patient's life.
® Non-voluntary: Moral decision made by someone other than the patient.

4. Passive and non-voluntary euthanasia

® Definition: Patient is allowed to die as requested by immediate family members or
attending physician.
® Passive: No active measures taken to prolong life.
® Non-voluntary: Moral decision made by someone other than the patient.
PROBLEM The moral issue of euthanasia revolves around the
preservation of human dignity in death.
OF HUMAN This issue has positive and negative sides.

DIGNITY POSITIVE
The former states that euthanasia aims to preserve human dignity until death.
Not only does one have a duty to preserve life but also the duty to die with
dignity.

NEGATIVE
The negative side, on the other hand, declares that euthanasia erodes human
dignity. This is the crossroads of the moral issue
As the positive side insists that mercy killing preserves human dignity, the
negative side claims the opposite since this act hastens the death of an
individual.
Different Views
1) T. GARY WILLIAMS

considers euthanasia to be morally wrong due to the

following reasons:

1. It is an intentional killing and opposes the natural moral

law or the natural inclination to preserve life.

2. Euthanasia may be performed for purposes of self-

interest or other consequences.

3. Doctors and other healthcare professionals may be

tempted not to do their best to save the patient.
Different Views
2) JAMES RACHELS

opts for euthanasia, believing it to be humane insofar as

it allows suffering to be brought to a speedy end.

whether killing of any kind is right or wrong depends on

the motives and circumstances under which it takes
place.
Different Views
3) PHILIPPA FOOT

endorses both active and passive euthanasia in which

the patient explicitly gives consent.

everyone has the right to life; hence, it is what a person

wants that counts.
Different Views
4) RICHARD BRANDT

applies the notion of Ross's Prima facie duty "not to

injure others" in his analysis of the issue at hand.

if instructions have been left for the patient's life to be

ended painlessly, it becomes one's prima facie
obligation to do so.

not to follow such as wish would be remiss in one's

prima facie obligation to keep others from further harm
or more pain.
 APPLICATION OF ETHICAL THEORIES
Natural law ethics condemns mercy killing.

Euthanasia is intrinsically wrong because it implies the direct and deliberate

killing of an individual; hence, it is murder (Bittle 1950; Pahl 1981)

Even though the motive is good (e.g., the patient is better off dead than
suffering from prolonged agony), the good does not justify the evil means in
this case.

The principles of stewardship and the inviolability of life may be appealed to

in this situation.

The principle of double effect may be legitimate under certain circumstances.

Example: In the context of Medical treatment.
 APPLICATION OF ETHICAL THEORIES
The principle of double effect asserts that as long as the intended effect is
morally good, the unintended negative effect is seen as an unfortunate but
permissible consequence.

It's important to note that the application of the principle of double effect can
be a subject of debate and relies on careful consideration of factors such as:
> the gravity of the situation
> the availability of alternative treatments
> and the overall well-being of the patient.

Furthermore, there is no moral obligation to continue medical treatment if

and when a terminally ill patient becomes hopeless. Even if one’s life might be
lengthened through extraordinary measures, which are already useless
anyway, it is legitimate to allow the patient to die as a result of his/her own
illness or injury, as the case may be.
 KANT’S ETHICS
emphasizes the human dignity of an autonomous, rational being and asserts
that individuals have a moral obligation to preserve their own lives.

prioritizes rational autonomy.

active and voluntary/non-voluntary

Example: Once a person becomes comatose and unknowing because of

illness and injury.

a terminally ill patient om a vegetative state is no longer autonomous person =

the duty to preserve life no longer hold. ( Kantian Principles).
 UTILITARIANISM
Depending on how one interprets the utilitarian principle of utility, it seems
that its formulation about the greatest happiness and benefits for the greatest
number of persons may render euthanasia legitimate.

Financial Burden, Psychological Strain on their family, and organ

transplantation.
 PRAGMATISM
The pragmatic Theory of the truth and good seems to justify euthanasia in
general

Pragmatic theory, also known as pragmatism, is a philosophical perspective

that emphasizes the practical consequences and usefulness of ideas, beliefs,
and actions.

Pragmatism considers knowledge and understanding as tools for achieving

practical goals and solving real-life problems. It values experimentation,
experience, and the application of ideas in practical situations.
 SITUATIONAL ETHICS
Moral norms depends upon a given situation, But whatever situation maybe,
One must act in the name of christian love.

Active and Voluntary Euthanasia

It can be argued that one is acting in the name ofagapeic love by helping a
terminally ill patient to die in a painless manner.
 ROSS ETHICS
aka. Rossian ethics or Prima Facie duty ethics

William David Ross

Prima Facie duties- fundamental moral principles, that guide our moral
obligations

Aims to provide a framework for understanding moral obligations and

guiding ethical decision- making

Prima Facie duty- not absolute or universally applicable rules, but rather
general principles that provide a starting point for ethical decision- making.
 RAWLS ETHICS
Concept of Justice

Argues that no amount of social good or welfare can override the inviolability
of an individual, it appears as if euthanasia would be illicit and unacceptable.

However , a person’s inviolability demands that his/her dignity be preserved

and justice be served if and when his/her dignity be preserved and justice be
served if and when his/her death would be as painless and non-violent as
possible.

Active and voluntary/ non-voluntary euthanasia = fairness

 QUIZ
1/2 YELLOW PAPER
(CROSSWISE)
True or False
The urge to live and the concomitant fear of
death are not instinctive to all living beings.

1
True or False
The former states that euthanasia aims to
preserve human dignity until death.

2
True or False
The negative side hastens the death of an
individual.

3
Identification
Who is the philosopher that applies the notion
of Ross's Prima facie duty "not to injure others"
in his analysis of the issue at hand?

4
Identification
Who is the philosopher that endorses both
active and passive euthanasia in which the
patient explicitly gives consent? She also

5
belives that everyone has the right to life;
hence, it is what a person wants that counts.
Identification
He believes that whether kiling of any kind is
right or wrong depends on the motives and
circumstances under which it takes place.

6
Identification
It suggests that under certain circumstances,
an action with an intended good outcome is
morally permissible, even if it has an

7
unintended negative consequence.
Identification
Emphasizes the human dignity of an
autonomous, rational being and asserts that
individuals have a moral obligation to preserve

8
their own lives.
Identification
A philosophical perspective that emphasizes
the practical consequences and usefulness of
ideas, beliefs, and actions.

9
Identification
Moral norms depends upon a given situation,
But whatever situation maybe, One must act in
the name of christian love.

10
Identification
Also known as the Concept of justice

11
Identification
Deliberate, painless and peaceful death of an
individual suffering from an incurable and
agonizing disease.

12
True or False
Euthanasia refers only to the practice of
painlessly ending the life of someone with a
deformity.

13
True or False
Passive euthanasia involves a patient's refusal
of medical treatment or life-sustaining
measures.

14
True or False
In passive euthanasia, positive means are used
to bring about the patient's death.

15
True or False
In active and non-voluntary euthanasia,
positive means used to end the patient's life
and the decision is aligned with the patient's

16
wishes.
True or False
In passive and voluntary euthanasia, no active
measures taken to prolong life and is carried
out based on decision made by someone other

17
than the patient.
Enumaration
Enumerate the two main classification of
euthanasia and the sub-classification that
belongs to each of the main classification. (8

18
points)
THANK YOU
CEROJALES - DIOLA - GARCIA - HABITAN