Euthanasia

Relevance to the 21Relevance to the 21stst CenturyCentury

http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/77045-2/ 

RG

Euthanasia – Euthanasia – when a person takes action when a person takes action to end to end the life of a patientthe life of a patient

Active – directly taking life (example: giving a lethal dose of drugs)

Physician- Assisted Sucide – when a physician gives a patient the means to end his/her life

Passive – indirectly taking life (example: turning off a respirator)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/38414

ETHICSETHICS

A terminally ill patient should A terminally ill patient should not have to die in a state of not have to die in a state of great pain and suffering, with great pain and suffering, with no hope of ever becoming no hope of ever becoming healthy.healthy.

Euthanasia would allow a patient to end a life that they consider meaningless and full of misery.

Advocating Euthanasia

http://eslacs.tripod.com/english/danai-euthanasia.html

A person should have control A person should have control over his/her own body.over his/her own body.

ETHICSETHICSAdvocating Euthanasia

This should include the right to decide whether to terminate one’s own life.

Legalizing suicide and not euthanasia is contradictory.

Ending a person’s life is Ending a person’s life is murdermurder..

ETHICSETHICSAgainst Euthanasia

Even if it is because the patient wishes it, the act is homicide and should be considered a criminal offense.

There is great value on human life.

Physicians take the Hippocratic Oath; Physicians take the Hippocratic Oath; they are healers and should not be they are healers and should not be permitted to end lives.permitted to end lives.

ETHICSETHICSAgainst Euthanasia

Permitting physicians to take lives would disable doctor-patient trust.http://boards.virginmedia.com/shout/haveyoursay/

righttodie.html?page=15

Abuse of Power?Abuse of Power?

Should euthanasia be performed on those who Should euthanasia be performed on those who are not competent to decide for themselves?are not competent to decide for themselves?

o Mentally illMentally ill

o Children and Children and infantsinfants

Who should Who should make these life make these life and death and death decisions?decisions?

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Legalization

Illegal in Canada and in the United States, except the state of Oregon

Legalized in the NetherlandsLegalized in the Netherlands

Considered as homicideConsidered as homicide

Potential Consequences of Legalization

Abuse by government and by healthcare professionals

“Slippery Slope” Specific guidelines must be put in place

Encouragement of suicide

Society placing decreased value on life

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Importance to 21st Century

The termination of life is a major issue because medical technology is advancing

Governments may decide to implement euthanasia to lessen costs of palliative care

Personal autonomy – the definition of rights, and the debate concerning whether people have a right to choose death are relevant independent of the time period

Do people have a right to die?

http://www.idsachicago.org/fightclub/html/euthanasia.html

References The de Veber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research (1998) Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Retrieved December 2, 2007 on the World Wide Web:

<http://www.deveber.org/text/euthan.html> Dixon, N. (1998, September). On the Difference between Physician-Assisted Suicide and Active Euthanasia. Hasting Center Report, 28 (5), 25. Retrieved December 2, 2007, from Health Source - Consumer Edition database. Gittelman, David K. (1999, April). Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. Southern Medical Journal, 92(4), 369-374. Retrieved December 2, 2007, from Health Source -Consumer Edition database. Harris, Nancy (Ed.). (2005). The Ethics of Euthanasia. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press. Lavery, James V., Dickens, Bernard M., Boyle, Joseph M., Singer, Peter A. (1997) Bioethics for Clinicians: 11. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Retrieved December 2, 2007 on the World Wide Web: <http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/

100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmaj/vol-156/issue-10/1405.htm> McTeer, Maureen. (1999). Tough Choices: Living and Dying in the 21st Century. Toronto, Ontario: Irwin Law.