Slide 1

Euthanasia

Relevance to the 21st Century
RG

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


Slide 2

Euthanasia

– when a person takes action to end
the life of a patient
Active – directly taking life
(example: giving a lethal dose of drugs)

Passive – indirectly
taking life
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/38414

(example: turning off a respirator)

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


Slide 3

ETHICS
Advocating Euthanasia

A terminally ill patient should not have to
die in a state of great pain and suffering,
with no hope of ever becoming healthy.
Euthanasia would allow a patient to end
a life that they consider meaningless and
full of misery.


Slide 4

ETHICS

Advocating Euthanasia

A person should have control
over his/her own body.
http://eslacs.tripod.com/english/danai-euthanasia.html

This should include the right to decide
whether to terminate one’s own life.
Legalizing suicide and not euthanasia
is contradictory.


Slide 5

ETHICS
Against Euthanasia

There is great value on human life.
Ending a person’s life is murder.
Even if it is because the patient wishes
it, the act is homicide and should be
considered a criminal offense.


Slide 6

ETHICS
Against Euthanasia

Physicians take the Hippocratic Oath; they are
healers and should not be permitted to end lives.
Permitting
physicians to take
lives would disable
doctor-patient
trust.
http://boards.virginmedia.com/shout/haveyoursay/rightt
odie.html?page=15


Slide 7

Abuse of Power?


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



Children and infants
Mentally ill

Who should make
these life and death
decisions?

http://www.foch.org/sections/features/images/n200006132.jpg


Slide 8

Legalization
 Illegal in Canada and
in the United States,
except the state of
Oregon
http://www.vr3.co.uk/vr3/images/world_map.jpg



Considered as homicide



Legalized in the Netherlands


Slide 9

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


Slide 10

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
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/03_03/
nurseG0204_228x289.jpg


Slide 11

Do people have a right to die?

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


Slide 12

References

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

Dixon, N. (1998, September). On the Difference between PhysicianAssisted 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,