Medicine, Morality and Human Body

• Humanist believe we have the right to live therefore should have the right to die.
• Non religious vieweuthanasia


  Human dignity is very important for a humanist which means they also take into consideration the quality of life not just the value of it. 
• Non religious view euthanasia


  Humanists also think we should respect personal autonomy. This means people should have the right to make their own decisions about their life, even if that means making the choice to end it.
• Quality of life


  a measure of how good or fulfilled a life is or can be
• Value of life 


  The value of life is the value of a person over and above physical value
• Euthanasia


  The ending of someone's life to free them of their suffering
• People who go through with euthanasia

  normally have an incurable illness.

  There are cases where people who don't

  have an incurable illness want euthanasia.
• Normally done when someone asks for it but

  sometimes if the person can't communicate

  the decision is made for them.
• Voluntary euthanasia


  When a patient desires to end their life and has clearly made the choice to die
• In-voluntary euthanasia 


  Where the patient has no say in their death. The decision is made by doctors or relatives
• Passive Euthanasia

  Not doing anything to stop or prevent the death of a person. When a doctor withholds any means to prolong the life of a patient.
• Active euthanasia 


  When a doctor ends the patients life by legal injection or another way
• For euthanasia


  It's expensive to keep people alive when there is no cure for their illness. Euthanasia would allow resources to go towards treating people who have a shot of living.
• For euthanasia


  Society permits animals to be put down as an act of kindness when they are suffering; the same treatment should be available to humans.
• For euthanasia


  Human beings should have the right to be able to decide when and how they die.
• For euthanasia


  Euthanasia enables a person to die with dignity and in control of their situation.
• For euthanasia


  Family and friends would be spared the pain of seeing their loved one suffer a long-drawn-out death.
• For euthanasia


  Death is a private matter and the state should not interfere with the individuals right to die.
• Against euthanasia


  Some people may change their mind about euthanasia and be unable to tell anyone.
• Against euthanasia


  Euthanasia would weaken society's respect for the value and importance of human life.
• Against euthanasia


  It would undermine the commitment of doctors and nurses to save lives.
• Against euthanasia


  Proper palliative care is available which reduces or removes the need for people to be in pain.
• Against euthanasia


  It would discourage the search for new cures and treatments for the terminally ill.
• Against euthanasia


  It would put too much power in the hands of doctors and damage the trust between patient and doctor.
• Against euthanasia


  Some people may feel pressured to request euthanasia by family, friends or doctors when it isn't really something they want.
• Against euthanasia


  Some people recover unexpectedly.
• Against euthanasia


  Voluntary euthanasia could be the first step on a slippery slope that leads to the involuntary euthanasia, where those who are undesirable or seen as a problem could be killed.
• IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is the fertilisation in the laboratory of an embryo outside the mother’s body.
• Saviour siblings


  The term used to describe embryos that are selected to develop into babies that will help save their sibling
• Arguments for saviour siblings


  Could save life of sibling 

  Another child to be loved

  Sense of pride 

  Good use of technology
• Saviour siblings arguments against

  Child may resent parents because they were selected for their siblings purpose.

  Child cannot give consent

  Medical procedure risk

  Spare embryos are destroyed 

  Could lead to parents having unwanted kids
• Designer baby


  Term refers to the concept of genetically modifying embryos to create babies with desired traits
• Designer babies arguments for

  Remove genetic diseases 

  Remove faulty genes 

  Ensure best start of life 

  Save money in the future
• Designer babies arguments against

  Not every genetic illness is unbearable

  Could lead to several problems

  May create unnatural issues
• Stem cell research


  Term refers to the concept of genetically modifying embryos to create babies with desired traits
• Should we use embryos for research

  • Using embryos for research can help scientists understand human development, which could lead to medical breakthroughs 
  • Research can provide insights into causes of genetic disorders and birth defects
  • Embryos can be used to test the effects of new drugs
  • Can enhance our understanding of fertility and help improve techniques like IVF benefiting couples struggling with infertility
• Should we use embryos for research (nO)

  • Human life begins at conception, and using embryos for research, which involves their destruction, is morally wrong because it disrespects the value of human life
  • Embryos have the potential to develop into human beings, and using them for research violets their rights to life and dignity 
  • Can lead to more controversial practices, such as cloning or cheating ‘designer babies
• Should we use embryos therapeutically

  • The embryo has no moral status - it is only a collection of cells. It becomes a person at birth
  • They are vital in extending our scientific knowledge. This can lead to new treatments for diseases
  • Provides insights into causes of genetic disorders and birth defects 
  • Can be used to test the effects of new drugs and treatments to ensure they are safe before being used on humans
• Should we use embryos theraputically (yes)

  • Some argue that human life begins at conception and using embryos for research disrespects the value of human life
  • There are other methods of research that don’t involve using embryos, like adult stem cells
  • The demand for embryos for therapy could lead to the exploitation of women, especially if they are paid to donate their eggs or go through fertility treatments to produce embryos