Euthanasia on the verge of becoming legal in Lithuania? Milda Gegužytė Eglė Mazėtytė

EUTHANASIA  Euthanasia - refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. From the Greek: Eu – well or good; thanatos - death Classification: I) Voluntary; II) Unvoluntary; Involuntary (?)  Active;  Passive.

Euthanasia in Lithuania  Passive (legalized in Patients' rights and health damage compensation Act)  patient’s right to refuse treatment or some medicine procedures o Active. Not legalized in Lithuania

Project of Euthanasia Act  Limitation of medicine  Act project is more conservative than in Belgium  “Everybody has a right to express their opinion - even a Parliament member “

Who would be entitled to use a right to Euthanasia?  Person who feels unbearable physical and (or) psychical suffering from incurable sickness  Reached 18 years old, capable, mentally abled, able intelligently evaluate his/her interests  This person plead the petition with free will and taking into account all given information about further incurable sickness

Euthanasia Control and The Committee  Euthanasia Committee  Ad hoc  Aim  verify if Euthanasia was in comformity with Euthanasia Act and others Acts regulated its proceeding  Finding infrindgement  Euthanasia case is transferable to public prosecutor

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF EUTHANASIA Respect for the autonomy and quality of life issue :  the only thing a person can absolutely control of his life. ??? The personal life of the control concept can be expanded to control death. ??? Criteria of quality of life: a life that one may seem bearable and worth it to live, the other seems unbearable.

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF EUTHANASIA Mercy, beneficence and utilitarianism  many people die enduring pain and fear  when no other means for pain relief, euthanasia is the only good ( benevolent ) decision.  Utilitarian point of view: every action - even if it ends in death - is positive if its consequences is positive  goal - a peaceful death.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA No legal way of properly regulating euthaniasia Euthanasia opponents don't believe that it is possible to create a regulatory system for euthanasia that will prevent the abuse of euthanasia. regulatory system for euthanasia

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA The slippery slope Many people worry that if voluntary euthanasia were to become legal, it would not be long before involuntary euthanasia would start to happen.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA Value of life/against will of God:  All human beings are to be valued, irrespective of age, sex, race, religion, social status or their potential for achievement;  Human life is a basic good as opposed to an instrumental good, a good in itself rather than as a means to an end;  Human life is sacred because it's a gift from God;  Therefore the deliberate taking of human life should be prohibited except in self-defence or the legitimate defence of others.

STATISTICS Pro euthanasia: 47 % Against euthanasia: 37 % Have no opinion: 16 %