Deck 12: Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

Question 1

Only __________ U.S. States have laws that permit physician-assisted suicide.

A) three
B) five
C) six
D) ten

Answer 1

three

Question 2

Any act that speeds the dying process is referred to as _________.

A) terminal suicide
B) active euthanasia
C) hastened death
D) physician-assisted suicide

Answer 2

hastened death

Question 3

Kenny is terminally ill and wants his doctor to help him legally end his life. The doctor and Kenny agreed that providing a carefully administered dose of a lethal drug is the care plan. What term best describes this scenario for ending life?

A) nonvoluntary euthanasia
B) physician-assisted suicide
C) passive euthanasia
D) involuntary euthanasia

Answer 3

physician-assisted suicide

Question 4

If a medical provider intentionally withheld necessary life-sustaining measures that resulted in ending a patient's life, they would likely be accused of __________.

A) intensive euthanasia
B) active euthanasia
C) passive euthanasia
D) hastened suicide

Question 5

During WWII the Nazi regime used __________ to eliminate individuals from society they regarded as undesirable.

A) passive euthanasia
B) nonvoluntary euthanasia
C) physician-assisted suicide
D) involuntary euthanasia

Question 6

When a person is not capable of making their own medical choices and are deliberately given life-shortening substances with the intent of ending their life it is called __________.

A) nonvoluntary euthanasia
B) involuntary euthanasia
C) passive suicide
D) Kevorkian euthanasia

Question 7

The public debate about physician-assisted suicide in the U.S. became noteworthy as a result of Dr. __________ actions.

A) Lou Gehrig's
B) Sam Kennedy's
C) Sigmund Freud's
D) Jack Kevorkian's

Question 8

In __________ terminally ill residents with six months or fewer to live are legally able to obtain a prescription for a lethal dose of a controlled substance to end their life as long as a physician does not administer the drug.

A) New York
B) Idaho
C) Oregon
D) California

Question 9

Patients with advanced __________ are most likely to utilize legal euthanasia in Washington State.

A) MS
B) heart disease
C) cancer
D) diabetes

Question 10

What landmark legislation was passed by the Oregon legislature in 1997 regarding euthanasia?

A) Oregon Anti-Euthanasia Act
B) Death with Dignity Act
C) Physician-Assisted Suicide Ban Act
D) Physicians Against Euthanasia Act

Question 11

The __________ is used by experts who grapple with moral questions about illness, medical, treatment, and the end of a person's life.

A) hastened death clause
B) hospice care effect
C) passive euthanasia doctrine
D) principle of double effect

Question 12

Which European country is well-known for its laws permitting legal physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia?

A) Italy
B) Germany
C) The Netherlands
D) Greece

Question 13

Doctors use the __________ as a moral and legal compass for patient care.

A) Hippocratic Oath
B) Scientific Method
C) Euthanasia Principle
D) Slippery Slope Hypothesis

Question 14

Americans are more likely to support physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia when __________.

A) laws also acknowledge the rights of minors
B) patients are terminally ill and have chronic pain
C) patients are terminally ill but not in pain
D) practices are endorsed by life insurance organizations

Question 15

The argument that relaxing laws on hastened death will lead to abuse of such practices is referred to as a __________.

A) slippery slope hypothesis
B) Hippocratic double-standard
C) involuntary threat
D) principle of double effect

Question 16

For medical professionals, there is a fine line between __________ and illicit hastened death.

A) active euthanasia
B) voluntary euthanasia
C) physician-assisted suicide
D) unintentional overdose

Question 17

Dr. Jack Kevorkian is also known as "__________" for his involvement with physician-assisted suicides.

A) Dr. Immoral
B) Dr. Grim
C) Dr. Death
D) Dr. Defiant

Question 18

What do Oregon, Washington, and Montana have in common?

A) All are states with laws permitting involuntary euthanasia.
B) All are states with laws permitting physician-assisted suicide.
C) All are states with laws banning physician-assisted suicide.
D) All are states with laws banning hospice and palliative care.

Question 19

What term best describes a situation where a patient refuses to take life-preserving medication to intentionally speed up the dying process?

A) hastened death
B) nonvoluntary euthanasia
C) physician-assisted suicide
D) active euthanasia

Question 20

The act of ending another's life against their will and without their consent is called __________.

A) passive suicide
B) physician-assisted suicide
C) nonvoluntary euthanasia
D) involuntary euthanasia

Question 21

Euthanasia is illegal in all but __________ European countries.

A) two
B) three
C) six
D) eight

Question 22

In the U.S. there are __________ states that legally endorse euthanasia.

A) no
B) five
C) twenty
D) forty

Question 23

Lethal injections given as a result of the death penalty could arguably be referred to as __________.

A) death with dignity
B) hastened suicide
C) involuntary euthanasia
D) the principle of double effect

Question 24

Through 2010, approximately __________ Oregonians have ended their lives using medications legally prescribed by physicians under the Death with Dignity Act.

A) 175
B) 250
C) 500
D) 1,200

Question 25

Discuss the ethical debate that exists around physician-assisted suicide. Why is this practice so controversial? How does this contentious issue relate to cultural beliefs and practices Americans have regarding death?

Question 26

Explain the details of the Death with Dignity Act. Under the law, what are patients entitled to and what is legally required of physicians and witnesses of a patient's voluntary death?

Question 27

What is the principle of double effect and what does it have to do with the debate about the legal and moral questions regarding physician-assisted suicide?

Question 28

Compare and contrast the tenants of the Death with Dignity Act and the Dutch Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act.

Question 29

Discuss some of the repercussions for physicians who assist with voluntary patient suicide illegally. In your essay, use examples from the chapter of doctors who faced such repercussions.