James Rachels: Active and Passive Euthanasia

question 11

Multiple Choice

James Rachels: Active and Passive Euthanasia
Active euthanasia is the intentional termination of a patient's life by another person, for the sake of relieving the pain and suffering of the patient. Passive euthanasia is the cessation of medical assistance needed to prolong a patient's life, again performed for the sake of relieving pain and suffering. The conventional doctrine in medical ethics is that whereas passive euthanasia is sometimes morally permissible, active euthanasia never is. Rachels argues that the conventional doctrine faces serious objections, and cannot be correct.
Rachels raises two objections to the conventional doctrine. The first is that the purpose of euthanasia is to alleviate pain and suffering, and in many cases active euthanasia can serve this function much more efficiently than passive euthanasia. Thus, if a decision has been made to employ euthanasia, active euthanasia is preferable to passive euthanasia. Rachels's second objection is that the conventional doctrine leads to decisions about life and death being made on morally irrelevant grounds. For example, passive euthanasia is sometimes employed on infants born with Down's syndrome who would require a simple surgery to survive. Such infants are allowed to die not because they require surgery, but because they have Down's syndrome. The decision to euthanize such infants depends on the irrelevant fact that they require a simple operation.
The acceptance of the conventional doctrine is often grounded in the view that killing is intrinsically worse than letting die. Against this, Rachels imagines two cases that are exactly alike in every respect, except that one involves killing and the other involves letting die. In the first case, Smith drowns his young cousin to gain his inheritance. In the second case, Jones, like Smith, intends to kill his young cousin, but ends up (because of a slippery bath tub) merely watching him drown. Rachels claims that the two men behave equally wrongly, and that this shows there is no morally relevant distinction between killing and letting die. The distinction between killing and letting die thus cannot be used to support the conventional doctrine
-Rachels argues that the conventional doctrine:

• A) is self-evidently correct.
• B) is counterintuitive, but can be supported by strong arguments.
• C) leads to decisions concerning life and death made on morally irrelevant grounds.
• D) leads to patients being euthanized against their will.

Identify the theoretical perspectives on the nature of human behavior and societal organization, including views of Freud, Rogers, and Bandura.

Explain the process of self-regulation in social cognitive theory.

Differentiate among major personality theories including social cognitive, humanistic, and trait perspectives.

Understand the application of humanistic psychology principles to personal and societal growth.

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Definitions:

Illness Prevention

Strategies and practices aimed at reducing the risk of developing diseases and health conditions.

Health Promoting Changes

Modifications or adjustments to lifestyle intended to improve or maintain optimal health and well-being.

Diabetes Control

The practice of managing and regulating blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes through diet, exercise, and medication to prevent complications.

Goals

The end results that the client and the nurse are working toward through the care plan; often identified in relation to nursing diagnoses.