Question 1

Talk about:
-Advanced directive

Accepted Answer

a document detailing a person's wishes about medical treatment in the event that that person can no longer communicate those wishes to a doctor.

Question 2

Under which conditions does Rachels think that active euthanasia is morally permissible?

Accepted Answer

A)  When it promotes the best interests of everyone concerned and violates no one's rights 
B)  When it is in the best interests of the patient 
C)  When the patient wants to die and it violates no one's rights 
D)  None of the above 
A)  When it promotes the best interests of everyone concerned and violates no one's rights 
B)  When it is in the best interests of the patient 
C)  When the patient wants to die and it violates no one's rights 
D)  None of the above A

Question 3

By what feature is euthanasia distinguished from other behaviors that result in the death of an innocent person?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is motivated by the desire to benefit other people. 
B)  It is motivated by the hope of benefiting the patient. 
C)  Both a and a 
D)  Neither a nor a 
A)  It is motivated by the desire to benefit other people. 
B)  It is motivated by the hope of benefiting the patient. 
C)  Both a and a 
D)  Neither a nor a B

Question 4

According to Harris, what is the most promising objection to the survival lottery based on?

Accepted Answer

A)  The biblical commandment against killing 
B)  The right of self-defense 
C)  The principle of common decency 
D)  The right to equal concern and respect 
A)  The biblical commandment against killing 
B)  The right of self-defense 
C)  The principle of common decency 
D)  The right to equal concern and respect

Question 5

Case Study
For Kelly's entire life, snowboarding has been her single passion. She grew up in the hills of Vermont and took every possible chance to hit the slopes. Her talent and dedication were so great that she qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. She competed at two Olympic Games and won several medals. Sadly, while training for her third Olympic trials, she was involved in a devastating snowboarding accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down at the age of 24.
After four years of life as a quadriplegic, Kelly informs her loved ones and her doctors that she would like to end her life. She claims that the suffering of being unable to pursue her passion of snowboarding has been excruciating and that the life she leads is psychologically unbearable.
-Should physical suffering and mental suffering be weighed differently when it comes to justifying active euthanasia? If so, why?

Accepted Answer

The question of whether physical sufferi

Question 6

How does Kass answer the question of how doctors should care for patients at the end of their lives? Be sure to explain the roles played by the concepts of humanity, autonomy, and physician responsibility in his answer. Do you agree with his answer? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

In his essay "A Time to Die," David Kass

Question 7

What is one possible harmful side-effect of instituting the survival lottery according to Harris?

Accepted Answer

A)  Distress and terror 
B)  An increase in crime 
C)  A deterioration in the doctor-patient relationship 
D)  Violent protests 
A)  Distress and terror 
B)  An increase in crime 
C)  A deterioration in the doctor-patient relationship 
D)  Violent protests

Question 8

Rachels concludes that euthanasia is

Accepted Answer

A)  sometimes morally acceptable because it promotes the best interests of all involved and violates no one's rights. 
B)  never morally acceptable because it kills an innocent human being. 
C)  sometimes morally acceptable because it maximizes happiness. 
D)  never morally acceptable because it would be abused if it were allowed. 
A)  sometimes morally acceptable because it promotes the best interests of all involved and violates no one's rights. 
B)  never morally acceptable because it kills an innocent human being. 
C)  sometimes morally acceptable because it maximizes happiness. 
D)  never morally acceptable because it would be abused if it were allowed.

Question 9

The Hippocratic Oath requires promising

Accepted Answer

A)  not to prescribe a deadly drug when asked for it. 
B)  not to heal those who have committed deep injustices. 
C)  not to objectify patients with their gaze. 
D)  never to cease medical intervention. 
A)  not to prescribe a deadly drug when asked for it. 
B)  not to heal those who have committed deep injustices. 
C)  not to objectify patients with their gaze. 
D)  never to cease medical intervention.

Question 10

According to Rachels, if killing someone is in the best interests of everyone but that person does not want to die, then killing the person is morally

Accepted Answer

A)  required. 
B)  permissible but not required. 
C)  impermissible. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  required. 
B)  permissible but not required. 
C)  impermissible. 
D)  None of the above

Question 11

According to the Equivalence Argument, there is no morally relevant difference between killing and letting die. Do you agree with this claim? Use specific examples to motivate your position. Considering your answer, do you think active euthanasia is morally permissible? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The Equivalence Argument posits that the

Question 12

Which of the following is not a limit set forth in the Hippocratic Oath?

Accepted Answer

A)  No breach of confidentiality 
B)  No dispensing deadly drugs 
C)  No nonmutual exposure 
D)  No sexual relations with patients 
A)  No breach of confidentiality 
B)  No dispensing deadly drugs 
C)  No nonmutual exposure 
D)  No sexual relations with patients

Question 13

Talk about:
-Active euthanasia

Accepted Answer

euthanasia that occurs as the

Question 14

Kass argues that patients who are likely candidates for euthanasia won't be _______ if euthanasia is legalized.

Accepted Answer

A)  the only ones who suffer 
B)  able to trust their doctors 
C)  able to give informed consent 
D)  All of the above 
A)  the only ones who suffer 
B)  able to trust their doctors 
C)  able to give informed consent 
D)  All of the above

Question 15

Explain the Doctors Must Not Kill Argument against the morality of doctors performing active euthanasia. Do you think that it follows from their "do not harm" oath that doctors should not perform active euthanasia? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The "Doctors Must Not Kill" argument aga

Question 16

According to Kass, what is the supreme ethical principle restraining the physician's power?

Accepted Answer

A)  The physician's compassion 
B)  The autonomy of the patient 
C)  The dignity of human life 
D)  The greatest happiness principle 
A)  The physician's compassion 
B)  The autonomy of the patient 
C)  The dignity of human life 
D)  The greatest happiness principle

Question 17

Many would object to Harris's proposed survival lottery scheme on the grounds that it involves killing innocent people. But Harris claims that rejecting the survival lottery scheme involves killing innocent people as well. What is Harris's support for this claim? Is it convincing? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Harris's support for his claim that reje

Question 18

What is one practical obstacle to implementing the survival lottery according to Harris?

Accepted Answer

A)  The time required to determine whether a patient is responsible for his condition 
B)  The computing technology required to implement the lottery. 
C)  The complications of organ transplantation 
D)  None of the above (There are no practical obstacles according to Harris.) 
A)  The time required to determine whether a patient is responsible for his condition 
B)  The computing technology required to implement the lottery. 
C)  The complications of organ transplantation 
D)  None of the above (There are no practical obstacles according to Harris.)

Question 19

Which of the following is a case in which choosing to die might violate someone's rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  A terminally ill teenager requests to be euthanized, even though it will cause his friends and family great suffering. 
B)  A single parent who is terminally ill requests euthanasia without having taken steps to ensure that her children will be well cared-for after her death. 
C)  A person causes their partner to suffer by requesting to be euthanized. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  A terminally ill teenager requests to be euthanized, even though it will cause his friends and family great suffering. 
B)  A single parent who is terminally ill requests euthanasia without having taken steps to ensure that her children will be well cared-for after her death. 
C)  A person causes their partner to suffer by requesting to be euthanized. 
D)  All of the above

Question 20

Many people agree with the Playing God Argument against the morality of active euthanasia. In your opinion, what sense of "playing God" makes this argument the strongest? Is allowing passive euthanasia also an instance of "playing God?" Do you think the argument is sound? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The "Playing God" argument against the m

Exam 15: Euthanasia

Talk about: -Advanced directive

Under which conditions does Rachels think that active euthanasia is morally permissible?

By what feature is euthanasia distinguished from other behaviors that result in the death of an innocent person?

According to Harris, what is the most promising objection to the survival lottery based on?

How does Kass answer the question of how doctors should care for patients at the end of their lives? Be sure to explain the roles played by the concepts of humanity, autonomy, and physician responsibility in his answer. Do you agree with his answer? Why or why not?

What is one possible harmful side-effect of instituting the survival lottery according to Harris?

Rachels concludes that euthanasia is

The Hippocratic Oath requires promising

According to Rachels, if killing someone is in the best interests of everyone but that person does not want to die, then killing the person is morally

According to the Equivalence Argument, there is no morally relevant difference between killing and letting die. Do you agree with this claim? Use specific examples to motivate your position. Considering your answer, do you think active euthanasia is morally permissible? Why or why not?

Which of the following is not a limit set forth in the Hippocratic Oath?

Talk about: -Active euthanasia

Kass argues that patients who are likely candidates for euthanasia won't be _______ if euthanasia is legalized.

Explain the Doctors Must Not Kill Argument against the morality of doctors performing active euthanasia. Do you think that it follows from their "do not harm" oath that doctors should not perform active euthanasia? Defend your answer.

According to Kass, what is the supreme ethical principle restraining the physician's power?

Many would object to Harris's proposed survival lottery scheme on the grounds that it involves killing innocent people. But Harris claims that rejecting the survival lottery scheme involves killing innocent people as well. What is Harris's support for this claim? Is it convincing? Why or why not?

What is one practical obstacle to implementing the survival lottery according to Harris?

Which of the following is a case in which choosing to die might violate someone's rights?

Many people agree with the Playing God Argument against the morality of active euthanasia. In your opinion, what sense of "playing God" makes this argument the strongest? Is allowing passive euthanasia also an instance of "playing God?" Do you think the argument is sound? Why or why not?

Moral Theory

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Skepticism About Morality

The Good Life

Consequentialism

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The Ethic of Prima Facie Duties

Virtue Ethics

Feminist Ethics and the Ethics of Care

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Economic Justice and Economic Inequality

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The Legacy of Racism

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