Lesson Objective: Euthanasia – Should people be given the right to choose when to die? Lesson Outcomes: know what the sanctity of life means understand the different types of euthanasia and why some people may consider it recall the laws surrounding euthanasia in the UK.
Is human life always precious?
Euthanasia Translates literally as a ‘good death’ – what do you think this means? Why might someone want to die?
Euthanasia is a way of bringing about a peaceful death of a terminally ill person. It is not legal in the UK but it is in Holland (see the Dutch nurse's caption in the cartoon).
There are four types of euthanasia There are four types of euthanasia. We will look at each throughout the course Euthanasia raises agonising moral questions like these: is it ever right for another person to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is in severe pain or enduring other suffering? if euthanasia is sometimes right, under what circumstances is it right? is there any moral difference between killing someone and letting them die? a-Active b-Passive c-Voluntary d-Involuntary
How? Euthanasia can be carried out either by doing something, such as giving a lethal injection. Or by not doing something necessary to keep the person alive (for example failing to keep their feeding tube going). Active Passive
Active euthanasia is when a doctor ends a patient’s life by administering a legal injection or any other way.
passive euthanasia is not doing anything to stop the death of a person passive euthanasia is not doing anything to stop the death of a person. It is when a doctor withholds any means in order to prolong the life of a patient.
voluntary euthanasia is a patient’s desire to end his life and it is clearly his decision to die
Voluntary euthanasia -Chantal Sebire was denied her request for euthanasia by a French court .
How did this clip make you feel? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUhBsvEsroQ How did this clip make you feel? Can you understand why Chantal Sebire made the decisions she did?
There are two main reasons behind euthanasia. 1. People feel that they should have a ‘quick end’ to relieve the suffering of their loved ones. 2. People who are terminally ill and who have no more hope of a decent life choose to die on their own terms.
Moral Dilemma Many people (philosophers in particular) believe that active euthanasia is morally more acceptable than passive euthanasia. Why do you think they think this? Do you agree with them?
Should we have the right to die? Why? Euthanasia Dianne Pretty suffered from motor neurone disease which can lead to a slow and painful death. She wanted her husband to help her commit suicide and took her case to court as it was against British law. She had lost most of her human dignity and felt that she no longer had a quality of life. Dianne lost her case, but died eventually of natural causes in 2002. Should we have the right to die? Why?
The programme caused outrage. Here are his thoughts.... Sky Documentary – Right to die! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWy6pKVendQ Sky recently showed a documentary of Craig Ewert undergoing assisted suicide. The programme caused outrage. Here are his thoughts....
An alternative – The Hospice Movement Palliative care is an alternative to Euthanasia. They are cared for by a wide range of medical staff and volunteers. Pain relieved through drugs. Talk through fears about dying. Care offered on a personal level. Often patients feel calmer and more positive after spending time in the hospice.
Watch the following clip to help you with your answer. Why might some people prefer to have an assisted suicide over palliative care in a hospice? Watch the following clip to help you with your answer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/a-story-of-assisted-suicide/459.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/a-story-of-assisted-suicide/459.html
Does Euthanasia give doctors too much power? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J-1zuT_MaY