Do you agree?

Casuistry of NML applied to voluntary euthanasia To know key facts about voluntary euthanasia To understand different views To be able to apply NML to voluntary euthanasia

EUTHANASIA This means “easy” or “merciful” death It is when someone who is dying from an incurable disease is helped to die The ethical problems surround: Whether the Quality of life is more important than the Sanctity of life And whether euthanasia should be legalised To be able to explain what euthanasia is and understand quality of life

Basic facts: Do this quiz now What is Euthanasia? The painless… 2. Which countries is euthanasia legal? I think euthanasia is legal in…. 3. What is the law on euthanasia in the UK? I think euthanasia is/is not allowed to happen in the UK. EXT: Do you agree with the UK law on euthanasia? Killing of someone dying from a painful disease Switzerland and the Netherlands It is not allowed to happen in the UK

So what is it all about? What are your initial thoughts and feelings about the topic as you watch this clip? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDOzT3_HfwI

Ranking: What would you do? Which patient has the best quality of life? Quality of life: That life must have some benefits for it to be worth living.

There are four sorts of euthanasia Match up: Voluntary Euthanasia: Involuntary Euthanasia: Active Euthanasia: Passive Euthanasia: When a doctor deliberately does this, i.e. an injection to kill When a doctor withdraws treatment (e.g. life support is turned off) Patient does not request but you have reason to think they want it. Patient requests this. Legal in some countries. Ask students to think about the meanings of each type of euthanasia, then they write down a definition in their book. Ext: Which do you believe to be the most controversial type and why?

Over to you to check your learning! Can you identify what type of Euthanasia each one of these cases is? Active Euthanasia Passive Euthanasia Voluntary Euthanasia Involuntary Euthanasia A patient has been suffering for a long time with severe pain. A doctor decides to give pain killing drugs knowing it will also kill the patient. He discusses this with the patient and they decide to go ahead with it to stop the pain. 2. A patient has been suffering for a long time with a terminal illness. They are still mentally aware. They have made a choice to end their life through an injection. 4. A patient with a life threatening illness as asked that if they ever become unconscious they are not to be resuscitated. 3. A patient needs radiation treatment to cure cancer but they decide not to have the treatment and subsequently die two months later 5. A patient has had a car accident and has been in a coma for a year. Doctors are considering switching off their life support machine. Ext: Do you agree with any of these types of euthanasia? Explain

Voluntary euthanasia is also known as active euthanasia, why? Check your learning! Can you identify what type of Euthanasia each one of these cases is? A patient has been suffering for a long time with severe pain. A doctor decides to give pain killing drugs knowing it will also kill the patient. He discusses this with the patient and they decide to go ahead with it to stop the pain. Voluntary and Active 2. A patient has been suffering for a long time with a terminal illness. They are still mentally aware. They have made a choice to end their life through an injection. Voluntary and Active. Voluntary euthanasia is also known as active euthanasia, why? 4. A patient with a life threatening illness as asked that if they ever become unconscious they are not to be resuscitated. Voluntary and Passive. 5. A patient has had a car accident and has been in a coma for a year. Doctors are considering switching off their life support machine. Involuntary and passive 3. A patient needs radiation treatment to cure cancer but they decide not to have the treatment and subsequently die two months later. Voluntary and Passive. Remind students that voluntary euthanasia is also known as active euthanaisa! Ext: Do you agree with any of these types of euthanasia? Explain

(General Medical Council) In the UK In 1961 suicide was decriminalised BUT made explicit that to aid or assist suicide in any way was still a crime. A patient is allowed to refuse treatment, even when that refusal could lead to harming themselves. However, they do not have the right to hasten the end of their life through medication. We have a right essentially to extend our lives, but not to shorten it. Patients have the right to decide how much weight to attach to the benefits, burdens, risks and overall acceptability of any treatment. They have the right to refuse treatment even when refusal may result in harm to themselves or in their own death, the doctors are legally bound to respect their decision. (General Medical Council)

What must we consider when discussing Euthanasia? When do we loose the value, meaning, quality and even the sanctity of life. When does life end (e.g on life support) What is life? (e.g a person in a coma) How far does a persons rights extend over their own body?

What would the law have to ensure if it was made legal? Monitoring Benefit society How would it work? How do you keep the Hippocratic oath? Interfering with nature? The divine?

Arguments against Sanctity of life SINGER- Sanctity of human life has distorted morality- it is easier to accept the use of healthy animals in cosmetic surgery than the termination of a foetus.... Contradiction? While the sanctity of the foetus is important so is that of the mother Foetus has potentiality- mother has actuality

Singer believes Christians are ANTHROPOCENTRIC and does not agree with it Anthropocentric -regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to animals. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (also theocentric) Humans made in the image of God, given dominion over the earth and its creatures. We are pinnacles of God’s creation. Stewardship.

Back to the precepts… Primary precept; preserving innocent life Natural Law teaches that there is something special about a human being that is above and beyond that of animals – therefore it should be protected. Taking another's life, even if they have requested it, is not morally acceptable. Similarly committing suicide would hold the same argument.

The Catholic Church… Defines euthanasia as… ‘an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes the death of handicapped, sick, or dying persons – something with an attempt to justify the act as a means of eliminating suffering’ What we consider to be virtuous behaviour might not be what we think of as a ‘mercy killing’ is really only an apparent good.

Problems with applying the 1st precept: Professor Ian Harriss; ‘In Spain where the Catholic faith and Natural Law have exerted a strong influence on policy, an intervention with the direct intention of either accelerating death, or killing the patient is considered morally wrong. However the heavy use of sedation implies that unconsciousness, either disease induced or drug induced, is perceived as the best way out.’ Is this still protecting innocent life? Is it life if heavily sedated?

What about the other precepts? Ordered society???

Can you apply double effect again?

Acrostic V O L U N T A R Y E U T H A N S I Aim to write 10 points which you could use in an answer to NML and voluntary Euthanasia V O L U N T A R Y E U T H A N S I

AO2: Effectiveness of NML in dealing with moral issues… Read the information from the text book and mind map key information that you could use in your own AO2 answer. Natural Law is effective Natural Law is not effective Universally applicable Not relevant in contemporary society Clear cut rules Discriminates against sexual orientation Based on reason Link between creator and creation Principle of Double effect Does not consider the situation – abortion Inflexible Better to act emotionally based on love rather than rationally