Ethics

Ethics Study Guide Use the following scenario to answer questions 4-6: Harold was 89 years old, widowed twice, and suffering from dementia. He broke his hip, had surgery, and then developed pneumonia. He stopped breathing and was put on a ventilator; it soon became evident that it was the only thing keeping him alive. He was not conscious, and so the decision was put to his daughter: should they take him off the ventilator and let nature take its course, or keep him on the ventilator, without any hope of his recovering? His daughter decided to take him off the ventilator. Sylvia was 92 years old, with a sharp mind, but her body was giving out on her. She had been independent all her adult life, but lately she had needed help getting around town. Her doctor just diagnosed her with a condition that was going to leave her unable to walk, talk or take care of herself any longer; she would have to be totally dependent on someone else, probably in an expensive nursing home that would take all her life savings that she was planning on leaving to her grand-nieces and nephews. She started researching medications on the internet that would let her die by drifting off to sleep. She asked her doctor to prescribe some for her. A convicted murderer is brought into the prison infirmary; he had been jumped and beaten badly. He had severe internal injuries and shattered bones in addition to his external wounds, and he was in great pain. If he survived this beating, he would suffer from chronic pain and disability for the rest of his life. He had been convicted of murdering several people, and he was serving a 135- year sentence. While administering morphine to the convict, the prison doctor administered three times the recommended dose, and the convict died. 4. Which person participated in assisted suicide? a. Harold’s doctor b. Sylvia’s doctor c. The prison doctor d. All of the above 5. Which person participated in Voluntary Passive Euthanasia? a. Harold’s doctor b. Sylvia’s doctor c. The prison doctor d. All of the above 6. Which person participated in Voluntary Active Euthanasia? a.

Harold’s doctor b. Sylvia’s doctor c. The prison doctor d. All of the above

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