EUTHANASIA

Euthanasia Student created 2005- 2009 Euthanasia Euthanasia definition Euthanasia: the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. (The key word here is "intentional". If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia) o Voluntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed has requested to be killed. o Non-voluntary: When the patient who is killed made no request and gave no consent. o Involuntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed made an expressed wish to the contrary. Euthanasia Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide." Euthanasia By Action: Intentionally causing a person's death by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection. Euthanasia By Omission: Intentionally causing death by not providing necessary and ordinary (usual and customary) care or food and water. More on Two Types of Euthanasia 1. Active or Direct 2. Passive or Indirect Active or Direct taking deliberate steps to end the life of a suffering and incurably ill person. This can occur with or without the consent of the patient. Active euthanasia involves the direct and intentional taking of life. Passive or Indirect deliberately not taking steps to prevent a sick persons death, with the desire and intention that this withholding will lead to death. May occur with or without consent of patient. Passive euthanasia is taking a life, however well- or ill-meaning the intention. History 400 B.C. - The Hippocratic Oath I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel.

14th through 20th Century - English Common Law

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For over 700 years, the Anglo American common law tradition has punished or otherwise disapproved of both suicide and assisting suicide.

19th Century - Washington vs. Glucksberg The right to life and to personal security is not only sacred in the estimation of the common law, but it is inalienable.

1939 - Nazi Germany Hitler ordered widespread mercy killing of the sick and disabled.

1995 - Australias Northern Territory Approves a Euthanasia Bill Went into effect in 1996, but it was overturned by the Australian Parliament in 1997

1998 - Oregon Legalizes Assisted - Suicide

2000 - Netherlands Legalizes Euthanasia Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

On October 27, 1997 physician-assisted suicide became a legal medical option for terminally ill Oregonians. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act requires that the Oregon Health Services (OHS) monitor compliance with the law, collect information about the patients and physicians who participate in legal physician-assisted suicide, and publish an annual statistical report. United States
Pro Euthanasia Death with Dignity means that patients die peacefully, surrounded by their families and doctors, instead of being suffocated by plastic bags or gassed with carbon monoxide as it happens now. Modern Technology keeps people alive hooked up to Machines. Government doesnt have the right to keep people alive. Pro continued People should have the right to commit suicide. Euthanasia should be provided to people who are terminally ill. Euthanasia sometimes is the only way to relieve excruciating pain. Opposition to Euthanasia is just an attempt to impose religious beliefs on others. Suicide isnt against the law; why should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide? The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government. CON People who have been gassed to death by Jack Kevorkian have been left in the back seat of cars in abandoned parking lots.

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Other attempts to legalize it have only legitimized the use of plastic bags and gassed death. Families sometimes have to watch an injection that will lead to violent convulsions and muscle spasms. Con continued The law already permits patients (or their surrogates) to choose not to be forced to remain alive by being hooked up to machines or to choose for various interventions to be withheld. Neither the law or medical ethics requires that everything be done to keep a person alive. Con etc. Laws against Euthanasia are in place to prevent abuse and to protect people from unscrupulous doctors and others. They are not intended to make anyone suffer. Euthanasia isnt about the right to die, its about the right to kill! The term Terminal is not very clearly defined. The Morality Issue Death-a person is dead when essential life systems no longer function (lungs, brain, heart, etc.) Threshold of life and death seem clearly defined. The Morality Issue contd In reality, the threshold between life and death is made unclear though the complexity in the dying process. New and improved medical technology raise important new moral decisions. The Churchs Principles Life is a gift from God It must be protected by all reasonable means

Dying is a natural process

The refusal and withdrawal of drugs and other interventions are not of themselves euthanasia Humans are not separate disconnected individuals As a community, they have the duty to care for and to enhance the life of an individual

The measure of societys integrity is its capacity to care for the most weak and vulnerable People should not feel like they have a duty to die The Churchs Position Church teaching condemns euthanasia. Euthanasia in the strict sense is understood to be an action or omission which of itself and by intention causes death, with the purpose of eliminating all suffering.

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-Pope John Paul II (The Gospel of Life, number 65)

Further Explanation of Churchs Position The Pope recognizes that sometimes people use the term to refer to actions that are not, strictly speaking, euthanasia. He points out that the same action may or may not fall under this strict definition of euthanasia depending on the kind of act and the intention behind the action. The Churchs Position The Catholic Church Allowing Death to Occur is Not the Same as Killing When inevitable death is imminent in spite of the means used, it is permitted in conscience to take the decision to refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life Declaration of Euthanasia, number 4 Further Explanation of Churchs Position Further Explanation of Churchs Position The Catholic Church The Catholic Church and Euthanasia By Omission Jack Kevorkian DR. JACK KEVORKIAN operates on a simple philosophy: People have a right to avoid a lingering, miserable death by ending their own lives with help from a physician who can ensure that they die peacefully. Dr. Kevorkian Dr. Kevorkian Dr. Kevorkian What We Should Do Get a living will or a designated decision maker for the the patient Living Will a declaration that a competent adult makes identifying the medical care desired if he becomes incapacitated Designated Decision Maker someone appointed to make decisions for a person who is incapacitated Be a part of the hospice movement Hospice an intense multi-faceted, spiritually based approach to assisting people through the dying process Hospice Considers death and dying as normal aspects of life Advocates family involvement in caring for the dying person, including care within the persons home for as long as it is beneficial

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Seeks to help those who are dying to be givers as well as receivers of care in the community of mutual support

Actively involves dying persons in decisions

Sees the spiritual dimensions as very important for dying persons and fosters spiritual preparation for death