To assess the arguments for and against euthanasia. To reflect on the moral dilemma surrounding euthanasia.

Background: Euthanasia From the Greeks meaning…… EUTHA= ‘Easy’ (sometimes translated as ‘good’) NASIA= ‘Death

Your first task: Against the clock! In front of you are the key terms and definitions of the differing forms of Euthanasia. Work in pairs to match the term with the definition. Look very carefully at the terms to try and help you decide. Time allowed: just 2 minutes!

VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA INVOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA PASSIVE EUTHANASIA ACTIVE EUTHANASIA COMPULSORY EUTHANASIA Euthanasia is performed because the patient has asked for it. e.g. a cancer patient who asks for a drug to quicken their death Doctors give a painkilling drug but do nothing to save the patient. Euthanasia has to be performed because a person has a certain illness or has reached a certain age. (NOT LEGAL) Euthanasia is performed without the dying person being told. e.g. a coma patient. Doctors give the patient pain killing drugs knowing that the drug will also kill the patient.

Double-Effect DOUBLE-EFFECT is when someone takes one action, such as giving pain killers to someone who is terminally ill, they cannot be blamed for the second effect (e.g. their death) DOUBLE EFFECT IS LEGAL….

What about other countries? In April 2002, The Netherlands became the first European country to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. It had already been happening, before that but doctors had been risking prosecution About 4000 people die of euthanasia each year in the Netherlands 90% of the population support it

Christian views Most Christians –Euthanasia is wrong Sanctity of Life Principle Do not kill – Ten Commandments BUT –Switching off life support is not euthanasia if the person is brain dead If someone is brain dead they have already died so switching off machine is accepting God’s decision –Not euthanasia to give dying people painkillers which will shorten their life (double effect) Some Christians All forms of euthanasia are wrong –Take the Bible literally and the Bible bans suicide. –Assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia are both forms of suicide. –Switching off machines and giving large doses of painkillers is equal to murder.

Islam & Euthanasia All Muslims are against euthanasia, however… Completely against because the Qur’an bans suicide –Sanctity of life –Life is a test, ending it early is like cheating and leads to hell However some Muslims do not agree that switching off life support machine is euthanasia –Some Muslim lawyers have agreed this –If someone is brain dead they have already died so switching off machine is accepting God’s decision

Your second task: In pairs read and discuss the arguments for and against euthanasia and choose up to five for each that you think are the most important. Now choose from these arguments the ones you think are the strongest and add them to the ‘weighing up the argument sheets’. In your books answer the following:  Do you have a ‘balanced’ sheet or more arguments on one side?  Would someone with a ‘religious led ethic’ agree with your view? Give reasons for your answer.

You are on a government committee who are deciding whether or not to make euthanasia legal. Read the real-life articles Think about how you would feel if you were in the same situation as one of the people below. Also base your decision on whether legalising euthanasia would benefit society as a whole. You must consider the issues already discussed and don’t forget we are in a country that has many people who have religious based ethics, would the majority of the population of Britain accept your decision?

To assess the arguments for and against euthanasia. To reflect on the moral dilemma surrounding euthanasia.