REVISION OF FACTS ON EUTHANASIA Euthanasia Euthanasia literally

REVISION OF FACTS ON EUTHANASIA

Euthanasia � Euthanasia literally means a gentle or easy death. � Also known as physician assisted suicide.

Why is it a moral issue? "right to life" and the "right to die right to life is generally protected by the laws of a country. � do people have a right to die as well? � some people sometimes wish to commit suicide but do not have the physical strength or the means to do it painlessly. Should society allow doctors or others to help them to die (assisted suicide)? � � � All doctors as well as many other people agree that we should preserve life whenever possible – Hippocratic Oath

Voluntary Euthanasia � Voluntary euthanasia means that you decide the time, place and method of your own death. � Voluntary euthanasia is where you have expressed the choice that in a certain range of circumstances you think that your life is no longer worth living and that you should be helped to “die with dignity”.

Involuntary euthanasia � Involuntary when the ill person may be unconscious or otherwise unable to make a meaningful choice between living and dying. (babies, dementia patients, etc) � In this case, an appropriate person would take the decision to end the patient’s life on their behalf (doctor, close relative). � involves much legal debate as to who has the right to make such a decision.

Types � Active – taking positive steps to end life. �Where a person may be given drugs by a doctor which will kill them, �or they may be able to take themselves with a doctor’s help. �Supporters of voluntary euthanasia have even designed “euthanasia machines” which work by allowing people to administer deadly drugs to kill them without the involvement of anyone else.

Passive � Passive – where treatment to save someone from dying may be withheld. � Eg. Switching off life support machine or withholding medicine or hydration. � In some countries a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order can be requested by a patient. This means that at the patient’s request, life-saving treatment will not be given - resulting in their death.

UK Law Euthanasia is illegal in Britain. To kill another person, even if the other person asks you to kill them, is classed as murder. This also applies to doctors and their patients. � It is a criminal offence in the UK, punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment, to assist, aid or counsel somebody in relation to taking their own life. (March 2002. ) � It is not illegal for someone to commit suicide or to attempt to commit suicide. (since 1961) �

The Principle of Double Effect � Double-effect is allowed in UK law ‟as long as doctor can prove dosage was necessary for pain relief”. � Where a doctor gives drugs to a patient to relieve pain even though he knows this will shorten the patient’s life. � This is because the doctor is not aiming to kill the patient- the bad result of the patient’s death is a side effect of the good result of reducing the patient’s pain.

2 Voluntary passive euthanasia � As a patient has an absolute right to refuse medical treatment, if a patient says to his/her doctor, "I want to die, please do not give me any medical treatment that would prolong my life, ” the doctor cannot legally override the patient's wishes. � By contrast, voluntary active euthanasia is not legal. If the patient says to his doctor, "I want to die. Please give me a lethal injection, ” then the doctor cannot �

Law in Netherlands � � � � Euthanasia was only officially made legal in the Netherlands in 2002. Only a doctor may carry out euthanasia There should be an explicit request of the patient leaving no room for doubt about the patient’s desire to die The patient should be in a situation of unbearable pain, either physical or mental, and suffering with no prospect of change The doctor should be very careful in making the decision and should consult at least one other physician The death must be reported to the authorities as a case of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide It should be noted that citizens from other countries are not eligible for euthanasia in Holland. They must have been a citizen for 3 years.

Problems with the Dutch system � � � � The Rimmelink Report (1990) 1040 died from in/non-voluntary euthanasia. That is an average of almost three people a day put to death by their doctors without their knowledge or consent. Of these, 72% had never said they wanted to end their lives. 8100 died as a result of drugs that were given, not primarily to control pain, but to speed up the patient’s death. The main reasons given for the decision to end these lives were: low quality of life of the ill patient the family could not cope anymore no prospect of the patient’s improvement

� Dutch Authorities find Euthanasia on the Rise (May 2006) � A new report showed that for the third year in a row, medical authorities in the Netherlands have reported an increase in the number of legal euthanasia cases. Many studies have shown that the number of actual cases of doctors killing their patients is roughly twice what is officially reported, despite laws making the practice legal. � � � at least 50% of patients requesting euthanasia were seriously depressed, with 44% of those suffering from cancer suffering signs of clinical depression when they asked for euthanasia. While the “safeguards” in the Dutch euthanasia program do require doctors to determine that a patient asking for euthanasia is “of sound mind, ” there is no requirement that they are not suffering from depression.

BMA � In the year 2, 000 the BMA opposed the legalisation of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. However If some doctors, who have exhausted all other possibilities for ensuring a patient's comfort, see the deliberate termination of life(euthanasia) as the only solution in an individual case, the doctor should be accountable to the law and to the General Medical Council and be obliged to defend such an action to those Authorities. � In other words, doctors could help a patient to end their life but would be subject to close investigation to ensure that no other solution to the patient’s problem was possible. � �

Reasons for their views The protection of vulnerable people Practical considerations. – how do you set safeguards to make sure it is always voluntary � If doctors were authorised to carry out euthanasia or assisted suicide, they would be given an additional role opposed to the traditional one of healer � Also, the psychological relationship between doctors and patients would also change, especially with those who suffer long-term illness or disability and who require substantial health resources to keep them alive. � �

Changes in views of BMA 2005 – voted to support a change in the Law to allow a change in the law to allow terminally ill patients to be helped to die by assisted suicide. � But BMA conference in 2006, doctors again changed their views on euthanasia. 65% of doctors voted against physician-assisted dying � Because "If good palliative (pain controlling) care is provided, requests for euthanasia are extremely rare. We should be doing all we can to make sure that this care is made more widely available. " �

Hospices � � � Hospices are special hospitals that take care of the dying in their last few weeks of life. Hospices were concerned not only with the patient’s physical well-being, but with their mental and emotional well being as well. The aim of the hospice is to give the patient a good death, but not through euthanasia. Hospices place great importance on pain relief – when people are in severe pain they are not themselves and are not comfortable with themselves or their surroundings. Hospices say that it is important to make the patient feel comfortable and at peace with themselves in order for them to have a good death. Hospices have their emphasis on the patient rather than the disease, and they take time to work through the roots of anxiety with the patient and their family. As a result, the patients learn to cope with dying. Hospices provide chaplains, patient treatments, more open visiting times and allow patients to bring in their own possessions to their rooms.

Arguments against by hospices No-one should suffer unbearable pain if they are treated correctly – doctors should know how to treat pain better � One of the main dangers of legalising euthanasia is the ‘slippery slope’ argument – if euthanasia is allowed for patients near to death, it could be extended to people who are not so ill � Some people could feel they have a duty to die rather than a right to live (elderly, disabled, etc) �

Palliative Care � Pain relief rather than a cure. � Administered by Mc. Millan nurses either in hospital, hospices or at home.

Arguments AGAINST Euthanasia It is unnecessary when there are painkilling drugs. � The dying person may not be able to think clearly enough to make a proper decision. � It could be abused. � Patents may not trust doctors to keep them alive. � People could be talked into euthanasia for the wrong reasons. � Euthanasia is no better than murder. � It is not fair to expect doctors to kill patients. � There are special places for the terminally ill to be cared for and to die peacefully, so there is no need for euthanasia. � If the patient is unable to choose, then who decides? � Mistakes can happen.

Arguments FOR Euthanasia � We should be able to choose how to die. � Euthanasia lessens the pain for the patient. � People should not have to live if they have no chance of getting better. � It stops the suffering of relatives watching the patient die a slow and painful death. � The health you have in life is more important than the length. � It is cheaper to let dying patients die than to keep them alive with expensive drugs. � If it were made legal, it would stop doctors breaking the law when they let someone die on purpose. � A life of pain and suffering can be as bad as dying. � It gets rid of people who are no longer useful.

Christian Views

Christian views Most Christians Euthanasia is wrong ○ Sanctity of Life Principle ○ Do not kill – Ten Commandments BUT Switching off life support is not euthanasia if the person is brain dead ○ If someone is brain dead they have already died so switching off machine is accepting God’s decision Not euthanasia to give dying people painkillers which will shorten their life (double effect) Some Christians All forms of euthanasia are wrong Take the Bible literally and the Bible bans suicide. Assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia are both forms of suicide. Switching off machines and giving large doses of painkillers is equal to murder.

Bible quotes Exodus 20. 13 – “You shall not kill”, � Leviticus 19. 32 “rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly” � Job 12. 10 “The life of every creature and the breth of all people is in God’s hand” �

Implications? � “So God created man in his own image, In the image of God he created him; Male and female he created them. ” (Genesis 1. 27) Christians believe that we are intrinsically valuable. Christians believe that we were created in the image of God.

A Catholic Perspective Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God – Pope John Paul II.

Purpose in suffering � Many Christians believe that there can be a purpose in suffering. � The symbol of Christianity is a cross. � Think, pair, share… can you think of any benefits which can be found in suffering?

The Catholic Truth Society � Nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being. No one is permitted to ask for this act of killing – Catholic Truth Society, 1980.

Christian life demands action, we are called to reach out and visit the elderly, care for those who can’t care for themselves, comfort the sick and dying as well as praying for healing and freedom from agonizing pain. Christians are called to lead the way not with just words but in actions…

Humanist Views

Humanism is a belief system that uses moral principles based on reason and respect for others. � We have individual rights and freedoms BUT individual responsibilities social cooperation and mutual respect are just as important. � We only have one life and have to make the best of it. Need to make our own meaning and purpose. �

� Use shared human values e. g. Golden Rule (‘Do unto others as you would have done unto you’) and UN Declaration of Human Rights. Promote happiness and fulfilment in life for themselves and for others. • Consequences of actions are considered in decision making.

Humanists are usually in favour of euthanasia as they see it as being morally right. � They think that quality of life is important, as is respect for people having control over their lives. � So people should have the right to choose a painless and dignified end to their lives. �

Humanists see no difference between active and passive euthanasia as the outcome of both is the same. � However, of the two, they would consider active euthanasia as being more preferable as it is quicker and kinder. �

Although life is valuable it can become intolerable – euthanasia is justified in this situation. � There is no purpose in prolonging life when it has no value to the individual. � It is a fundamental human right to be able to choose when to end your own life. � Euthanasia is acceptable in the case of incurable illness or injury of a serious or distressing nature. �

� They are concerned that the patient should receive counselling, be assured there is no pressure and the request has been witnessed. � They think that, where it is legal, several doctors have to be consulted and there is to be no hope of recovery.

Humanists say that the example of Hitler as an argument against euthanasia is totally invalid. He did not offer voluntary euthanasia to terminally ill patients. There is a definite difference between voluntary and involuntary euthanasia.

We have already taken on role of ‘God’ when we do operations, give vaccinations to save lives, prevent disease

Humanists believe people should have autonomy over their own lives. Euthanasia gives respect to the individual to decide that his life no longer has meaning and value. Yes, life does have a special meaning but for some people that ceases to exist and so their request for euthanasia should be respected.

Humanists say that… Euthanasia is acceptable for seriously defective newborn babies because the chances of a worthwhile life are very low. � We have a social duty to limit the number of children in our families so we should only choose those who have a reasonable chance of survival. �