1. Moral Issue of Euthanasia
Mevelle L Asuncion
CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING

2. EUTHANASIA
 Gk word “ eu”- easy
 “thanatos” – death
 Painless death
 Mercy killing

3. Classification
1. self-administered
 Active/positive euthanasia
 Passive/negative euthanasia
2. Other administered
 Active and voluntary
 Passive and voluntary
 Active and nonvoluntary
 Passive and nonvoluntary

4. Active euthanasia
 Act of commission
 Peron end his own life

5. Passive euthanasia
 Allowed to die without taking
medications or refuse medical
treatment
 Act of omission

6. Positive side
 Mercy killing
 Preserve human dignity
Negative side
 Hastens the death of the individual
 Does not prolong agony

7. Different views
 Garry Williams
◦ Wrong
1. Argument from nature
2. Argument from self-interest
3. Argument from practical effects
 James Rachel
◦ Allows euthanasia to be humane, since
it does not prolong agony
◦ Depends on motive and intentions

8. Different views
 Fillipa Foot
◦ Active and passive euthanasia
◦ But with patients consent
 Rachel Brandt
◦ Ross prima facie duty
◦ Active and voluntary
◦ If patient has instructions beforehand then
it is our obligatio to fulfill his/her wish

9. Natural law ethics
 Condemns mercy killing
 Except for principle of double effect
 Ex:
◦ Giving of pain reliever with good intention
but with indirect effect of shortening
lifespan

10. Kant’s ethics
 Preserve human dignity
 Autonomous rational being
 Ok with active voluntary euthanasia
 Ok with active nonvoluntary if the
patient is comatose
 Comatose
◦ No self-regulating will

11. Utilitarianism
 Greatest good for the greatest number
of people
 If a patient is dying, it is better to
donate organs