1. What topics would you most like to revise as a
class?
What topics did you find particularly difficult to
understand?

2. The objective of this lesson: Revise euthanasia
REVISION Euthanasia
The objective of this lesson:
Revise euthanasia

3. What you need to know…
The nature of euthanasia including current British legislation.
Why euthanasia is a controversial issue.
Christian attitudes to euthanasia and the reasons for them. (Three different views)
Sikh attitudes to euthanasia and the reasons for them. (Two different views)

4. The painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease
‘Gentle and easy death’
Euthanasia
Quality of life
The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living
Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide
Assisted suicide
Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death
Voluntary Euthanasia
Ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so
Non- Voluntary Euthanasia

5. Other useful key words…
living will - In this document a person can state what they want to happen if they become too ill to decline or consent to medical treatment.
Palliative care - 'treatment of symptoms where cure is no longer considered an option'; in other words, the patient is dying. It focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms.

6. Euthanasia
Passive euthanasia – the withdrawal or withholding of treatment.
Positive euthanasia – bringing someone’s life to an end.

7. Euthanasia is against the law in the UK
Euthanasia is against the law in the UK. It is illegal to help someone kill themselves under any circumstances.
'Assisted suicide' or voluntary euthanasia carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

8. For Against
Some people are kept alive by advances in technology and medicine when they previously would have died.
Life support machines have brought in a type of euthanasia already as they can be switched off.
Some doctors have been allowed to refuse to give treatment to people who will not recover.
It should be a basic human right to have control over your own death.
Some relatives may take advantage of the law to get hold of someone’s wealth.
A cure might be found for the disease.
Doctors should be saving lives not ending them.
People might not be in their right mind when they ask for euthanasia.
Difficult to implement safeguards.
Terminal disease?

9. Christian attitudes towards Euthanasia
Attitude One
(Many Catholics and Liberal Protestants)
Euthanasia is wrong
Doctrine of Double Effect
A life-support machine can be turned off ONLY if a doctor declares the person to be brain-dead.
Why
Sanctity of life
Would be murder – 10 commandments
A person declared brain-dead would be considered already dead

10. Christian attitudes towards Euthanasia
Attitude Two
(Some Christians)
Would not allow switching of the life support machine or the giving of a large dose of painkillers.
Why
Literal interpretation of the Bible
If life is ended by painkillers then that life has been taken by the hands of man and not God.

11. Christian attitudes towards Euthanasia
Attitude Three
(A few Christians)
Agree with living wills.
Why
Jesus taught – love your neighbour.
Medicine has advanced so much, how can we be sure what God’s wishes would be?

12. Sikh attitudes to Euthanasia
Attitude One
(Most – against Euthanasia in any form.)
WHY?
Sanctity of life – Guru Granth Sahib, condemns
damaging the soul.
Only God can give and take life.
To practice Euthanasia is to play God.
……….

13. Sikh attitudes to Euthanasia
Attitude Two
(Many Sikhs in Britain will accept British practices on
the issue .)
i.e. they may be more willing to accept the turning off of a life support machine, even though they are against Euthanasia in general.
WHY?
Someone who is brain-dead has already been taken by God.
Trying to keep someone alive is preventing God from taking their soul.

14. Some example questions:
Look at the yellow boxes on the following pages:
Page 55
Page 57
Page 61
PRACTISE SOME EXAM QUESTIONS!
AND TIME YOURSELF!

15. The law on euthanasia should be
changed.

16. I believe euthanasia is always
wrong.

17. Turning of a life support machine
is euthanasia.

18. Life belongs to God – and should
only be taken by God.