Questions to write about:

1. The nurse arguably helped let Mac die. Was it morally permissible for her to

NOT hit the button so that he could die? Why or why not?

yes	yes	yes	yes
He didn’t want to suffer; his dying would end his suffering; nurses were overwhelmed by the awfulness of Mac’s situations; (3) Mac’s autonomy was not respected;	His own will to die; shouldn’t prevent God’s will via science.. ; overwhelmed keeping him alive ; so much suffering better off dead..	Shouldn’t be forced to live; repeatedly asked; “died” already; wife was relieved.. ; been through so much…	Right to die; postponing his death.. ; wife relieved at death ; brought down overall demeanor of hospital. He had asked to be let die; no one else would be harmed..

A principle:

If someone is

-        Suffering horribly and

-        Their suffering cannot be relieved, and

-        They want to die, and

-        Some friend or family member(s) agree that they’d be better off dead, and

-        There’s no realistic chance for recovery..

Then it is permissible to let them die.

2. Suppose, at some point after his diagnosis and “decay”, someone

had given Mac a lethal injection to kill him because he asked for it.

Could that have been morally permissible? Why or why not?

Yes..	Yes	Yea	yes
Wouldn’t harm him OR anyone else; everyone would be content; end his life sooner, so ending his (and everyone else’s) misery sooner than later; smooth	Would suffer more without the injection	Consented.. painless death; relief for all involved..	Already gonna die; no more prolonging the death; wanted it; relieve nurse s and wife and all involved; right to die

If someone is

-        Suffering horribly and

-        Their suffering cannot be relieved, and

-        They want to die, and

-        Some friend or family member(s) agree that they’d be better off dead, and

-        There’s no realistic chance for recovery..

Then it is permissible to actively kill this patient BECAUSE doing so – “active euthanasia” brings about the same ends or results as “passive euthanasia” but quicker, so with less pain and suffering and more immediate satisfaction of patients’ wishes, i.e., respect for their autonomy.