Abortion and Euthanasia

Cards (13)

  • Abortion
    Prematurely removing a foetus from the womb to terminate the pregnancy
  • Abortion is legal in the UK
  • Euthanasia
    Killing someone to relieve suffering (mercy killing) often from a terminal illness.
    Two types: active + passive
  • Passive Euthanasia
    Withdrawing medical treatment keeping someone alive, e.g. turning off life support if perhaps a patient is braindead. This is legal in the UK
  • Active Euthanasia

    When a patient requests help to die (often using drugs).
    It is illegal in the UK
  • Sanctity of life argument?
    Christianity + Islam teach that all life is created by God + as God's creation all life belongs to Him and is holy so as humans we shouldn't interfere
  • Many religous people believe that people don't have the right to interfere when life ends or to prevent the beginning of a new life.
  • Many religous people support hospices as they believe it is a way of helping people die with dignity and be cared for, though Muslims usually prefer to care for the ill themselves, as they can be surrounded by family
  • Quote against abortion/euthanasia: Islam (Qur'an 4:29)

    "Do not kill yourselves (or another)"
  • Quote against abortion/euthanasia: Islam (Qur'an 5:32)
    "Whoever kills one person, it is as if he had slain all of mankind"
  • What is 'Sanctity of life'?
    The belief that life is precious/sacred. For many religous believers only human life holds this status
  • What is 'Quality of life'?
    The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable
  • Many people take into account a person's quality of life before euthanasia/abortion