Moral Questions About Euthanasia
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 3.2.6
Moral Questions About Euthanasia
A lot of moral questions about euthanasia focus on the debate between the sanctity and quality of life.
The sanctity of life
- For religious believers, euthanasia breaks the basic principle of not taking life.
- This is because all life is given by God.
- For many Christians, such as Aquinas, it also goes against one of the primary precepts of Natural Law.
- This is the notion that innocent life needs to be protected.
The quality of life
- Those who support some form of Euthanasia often say it is a question of the quality of a person’s life.
- Especially if they are in great pain, or very infirm and near the end of their life.
- Those who agree with Fletcher, and Situation Ethics, might say that ending a life of pain can sometimes be the most loving thing to do.
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Moral autonomy
- Finally, this question again raises the issue of moral autonomy.
- In making such difficult moral decisions about life and death, who should decide what is or is not permitted?
- God, the State, or the person most affected?
Test yourself on Moral Questions About Euthanasia
What moral questions and considerations are raised by euthanasia?
What would someone who agrees with Situation Ethics say about euthanasia?