1. Natural moral law on euthanasia
Learning objective:
To apply Natural Moral Law theory to the topic of euthanasia.
Key Words
Voluntary euthanasia
Non-voluntary euthanasia

2. Recap
What is Aquinas’ natural law concerned with? Which of the 5 primary purposes is most relevant when thinking about euthanasia?

3. Recap
What is Aquinas’ natural law concerned with? Morally good actions – the goodness of those actions is determined by the extent to which they accord with God’s eternal law. Natural law thinking is concerned with the ultimate end of the person – their purpose.

4. Read the sheet on Catholic church teaching
Read the sheet on Catholic church teaching. How does the teaching link to natural law theory? What might euthanasia be viewed as by a natural law theorist? An apparent good, not a real good. It fails to recognise the greater good related to the sanctity of life.

5. How could you use the doctrine of double effect with reference to euthanasia and assisted dying?

6. “Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of ‘over-zealous’ treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able, or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.” Catechism of the Catholic Church E.g. if palliative care is the primary purpose, even if life ends sooner than it might otherwise as an effect. This course of action is not considered euthanasia as the intention is not to kill. It is classified as a Non Treatment Decision in UK law. What do you think about this teaching? Is it in line with the teaching of natural moral law? Can you relate our discussion of active/passive killing to the quote?

7. How useful is NML when making a decision about euthanasia?
Create a table in your notes or a mind map with reasons it might be a helpful or unhelpful method of deciding whether euthanasia is morally acceptable. e.g. a problem with applying NML to assisted dying and euthanasia - Natural law talks about persons. If someone is in a coma etc. are they still a person?

8. Homework – situation ethics and euthanasia
Blue textbook – read p on situation ethics and euthanasia.
Make notes on why situation ethics seems to condone euthanasia.
Answer: How far do you agree with Fletcher’s position on euthanasia (write no more than one side of A4)