EUTHANASIA

(Group 8, 4:00 – 5:00 MWF)

I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Basic Information
Euthanasia is the termination of a very sick person's life in order to relieve them of their
suffering.

A person who undergoes euthanasia usually has an incurable condition. But there are
other instances where some people want their life to be ended.

In many cases, it is carried out at the person's request but there are times when they may
be too ill and the decision is made by relatives, medics or, in some instances, the courts.

The term is derived from the Greek word ‘euthanatos’ which means easy death.

Euthanasia is against the law in the UK where it is illegal to help anyone kill themselves.
Voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide can lead to imprisonment of up to 14 years.

The issue has been at the center of very heated debates for many years and is surrounded
by religious, ethical and practical considerations.

B. Definition of Terms
 Assisted suicide
- This is when the person who wants to die needs help to kill themselves, asks for
it and receives it.

 Competence
- A competent patient is one who understands his or her medical condition, what
the likely future course of the disease is, and the risks and benefits associated
with the treatment of the condition; and who can communicate their wishes.

 Dignity
- The value that a human being has simply by existing, not because of any property
or action of an individual.

 DNR
- Abbreviation for Do Not Resuscitate. Instruction telling medical staff not to
attempt to resuscitate the patient if the patient has a heart attack.

 Doctrine of Double Effect

- Ethical theory that allows the use of drugs that will shorten life, if the primary aim
is only to reduce pain.

 Futile treatment
- Treatment that the health care team think will be completely ineffective.

 Living will
- A document prepared by an individual in which they state what they want in
regard to medical treatment and euthanasia.

 Palliative care
- Medical, emotional, psychosocial, or spiritual care given to a person who is
terminally ill and which is aimed at reducing suffering rather than curing.
  PAS
- Abbreviation for Physician Assisted Suicide.

Types of Euthanasia:
a) Active euthanasia
In active euthanasia a person directly and deliberately causes the patient's death.

b) Passive euthanasia
In passive euthanasia death is brought about by an omission - i.e. by
withdrawing or withholding treatment in order to let the person die.

c) Involuntary euthanasia
This occurs when the person who dies wants to live but is killed anyway. It is
usually the same thing as murder.

d) Voluntary euthanasia
This is where euthanasia is carried out at the request of the person who dies.

e) Non-voluntary euthanasia
This is where the person is unable to ask for euthanasia (perhaps they are
unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate), or to make a meaningful choice
between living and dying and an appropriate person takes the decision on their
behalf, perhaps in accordance with their living will, or previously expressed wishes.

f) Indirect euthanasia
This means providing treatment (usually to reduce pain) that has the foreseeable
side effect of causing the patient to die sooner.

C. Goals and Objectives

Goals:
 Humane treatment at all times
 Acceptable method – Quick, efficient and humane
 Minimize negative psychological impact – Animal owners and caretakers,
responders, public
 Prevent disease spread
 Prevent adulterated animal products from entering food chain

Objectives:
 To promote access to appropriate care for all, including adequate pain management
and quality palliative care, in the environment which best meets the needs of the
patient.
 To promote a legislative and ethical environment opposed to euthanasia and assisted
suicide.
 To oppose disproportionate treatment as well as euthanasia and assisted suicide.

D. Harm and Benefit

Harm:
 It goes against ethics.
 It is against the oath of physicians.
 It can urge other people to do the same

Benefit:
 It ends the suffering of the dying.
 It gives dignity to a dying a person
  It is humane.

II. Ethical Questions

A. Principles Involved
1. The Principle of Autonomy
A competent person has the right to determine his or her own course of medical
action in accordance with a plan he or she chooses. We have a duty to respect the wishes and
desires expressed by a competent decision maker.

2. The Principle of Beneficence

A competent person has the right to determine his or her own course of medical
action in accordance with a plan he or she chooses. We have a duty to respect the wishes and
desires expressed by a competent decision maker.

3. The Principle of Nonmaleficence

One should refrain from inflicting harm (or unduly risking the infliction of
harm) on another. Nonmaleficence requires me to refrain from doing something to someone.

4. The Principle of Life Preservation (Inviolability of life)

We have a moral duty to protect and preserve human life whenever possible.
The burden of proof is always on taking human life, not on sustaining it.

B. Ethical Issues
 Is it ever right to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is undergoing severe pain
and suffering?
 Under what circumstances can euthanasia be justifiable, if at all?
 Is there a moral difference between killing someone and letting them die?

III. Justification
A. Pro
1. Terminally ill people should have the right to end their suffering with a quick, dignified,
and compassionate death
2. A separate right to die is not necessary, because our other human rights imply the right
to die
3. Death is a private matter and if there is no harm to others, the state and other people
have no right to interfere (a libertarian argument)
4. It is possible to regulate euthanasia.
5. Death is a private matter and if there is no harm to others, the state and other people
have no right to interfere (a libertarian argument)
6. Allowing people to die may free up scarce health resources (this is a possible argument,
but no authority has seriously proposed it)

B. Con
1. Euthanasia weakens society's respect for the sanctity of life.
2. Accepting euthanasia accepts that some lives (those of the disabled or sick) are worth
less than others.
3. Voluntary euthanasia is the start of a slippery slope that leads to involuntary euthanasia
and the killing of people who are thought undesirable.
4. Euthanasia affects other people's rights, not just those of the patient.
5. Proper palliative care makes euthanasia unnecessary.
6. There's no way of properly regulating euthanasia.
7. Allowing euthanasia undermines the commitment of doctors and nurses to saving lives.
8. Euthanasia may become a cost-effective way to treat the terminally ill.
 9. Allowing euthanasia will discourage the search for new cures and treatments for the
terminally ill.
10. Moral pressure on elderly relatives by selfish families
11. Moral pressure to free up medical resources.
12. Patients who are abandoned by their families may feel euthanasia is the only solution.

IV. Conclusion
Based on the justifications and arguments presented on the pros and cons of euthanasia, we
therefore, conclude that euthanasia should be legalized, implemented and accepted by the society.
Euthanasia is justifiable because it doesn’t always mean it’s murder and sometimes euthanasia helps
relieve the suffering of a person. If we want this to be implemented, we need to set guidelines on how
and when it is appropriate to perform euthanasia.

REFERENCES:
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/
 http://www.equip.org/article/what-are-some-key-bioethical-principles-
involved-in-euthanasia-debates/