PHL 223 1st Edition Lecture 4Outline of Current Lecture I. Definitions of DeathII. When is someone considered dead?III. Uniform Brain Death Act Standard of 1978IV. James Rachels-Active and Passive EuthanasiaV. Gay-Williams’ ObjectionsVI. What causes death?Current LectureDefinitionso Legally, the definition of death varies by stateo Whole Body Standard- (older standard) everything would go at once (stop breathing, no O2 to heart, heart stops, etc.) o Brain Death- When your brain completely stops working Harvard Criteria- loss of all brain activity and 2 flat EEG’sUniform Brain Death Act Standard of 1978o Irreversible loss of all brain functionThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.o Irreversibility standard- when you will never be aware of anything ever againo Cognitive criteria- loss of core mental propertieso Memory, reason, self-awareness*BIOGRAPHICAL LIFE MATTERS, NOT BIOLOGICAL LIFE*James Rachels on Active and Passive Euthanasiao The legal distinction between active and passive euthanasia is unjustifiedo Active can sometimes be more humane than passiveo Throat cancer exampleo Compassion/well-being/mercyo The value of autonomy can also favor active euthanasiao If a competent adult wants to die, this is a reason to kill himo But.. isn’t killing worse than just letting one die?o Rachels: Consider 2 cases just the same except for one is killing and one is letting dieo If John deliberately plans and drowns his little brother himself, is it just as bad as if John sees his little brother drowning and doesn’t make any effort to save him? Main Argument:- Passive and active are, in themselves, equivalent- Passive is less humane than active If passive euthanasia is okay (morally and legally), then active euthanasia should be ok too. o Paradigm Case- 1st thing you think ofo Gay Williams’ Objectionso Euthanasia goes against out natural instincts Often, we should go against natureGay Williams’ ObjectionsI. Euthanasia goes against our natural instinctsa. Often we should go against natureb. Male aggression=naturalII. The possibility of being cureda. Naïve hopeb. How to deal with dying-optimism without losing touch of realityIII. Slippery slopea. A scare tactic?b. No known abuses of active euthanasia in the Netherlands or of PAS in OregonWhat causes death?Active: someone other than the patientPassive: the disease or some natural processPermanent sedation: the disease kills them (most
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