1. Should Euthanasia be Legal?
Alex Steele
Domini VF

2. Types of Euthanasia Types
Passive Euthanasia: is withdrawing some form of life support and letting nature take its course
Active Euthanasia: involves a doctor administering something that results in death of a patient at the patient’s request
Physician Assisted Suicide- when a physician supplies the means of committing suicide to the patient. The patient then chooses to terminate their own life when they desire.

3. Washington State

4. Pro-Euthanasia Compassion in Dying v. State of Washington
Made euthanasia legal in Washington
Ruled that prohibiting physician assisted suicide violates the 14 amendment’s due process clause.
“nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property”
By making euthanasia illegal, you take away an individual’s liberty to choose how, and when to end one’s life .

5. Case Cont.
Court also ruled that a patient has a protected liberty interest to be free from unjustified government intrusion
An individual has the right to end their life to avoid prolonged suffering.

6. Other Important Cases
Gonzales v. Oregon which legalized physician assisted suicide in Oregon
Baxter v. Montana which legalized physician assisted suicide in Montana

7. Anti-Euthanasia Main arguments Decrease in actual medical care
Instead of trying to make some one better, doctors are giving patients a way to commit suicide
Slippery Slope argument
Puts pressure on certain individuals
Elderly people pressured by selfish families
Pressure to free of medical sources
Patients abandoned by their families may feel suicide is the only choice, when counseling would most benefit them.

8. Possible Middle Ground?
Reaching a compromise on whether or not euthanasia should be legal is difficult
It’s not always clear how medical intervention will affect someone’s life
Legislation should draft a bill that address both legal, and moral concerns
Highly regulating the process
Requiring multiple doctors sign a waiver
Must be done in a hospital setting

9. Works Cited
DeSoto, Marla , ed. "Bioethic Issues ." Glendale Community College Library and Community Services . N.p., 3/16/2005. Web. 1 Apr <
BBC, , ed. "Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide ." BBC. N.p., 1/18/2011. Web. 1 Apr <
Ertelt , Steven . "Assisted Suicide Support Drops to Lowest Level in 8 Years." LifeNews.com . Life News, 1/18/2011. Web. 5/31/11. <
United States Court of Appeals , . "Find Law ." United States Court of Appeals,Ninth Circuit.. Find Law , Web. 1 Apr <
LeBaron, Garn. "The Ethics of Euthanasia ." Quantonics . Quantonics Inc., 02/08/1999. Web. 1 Apr <
Huff, Charlette. "Doctors Debate Ethics of Assisted Suicide ." ACP Internist . 1 Aug 2010: n. page. Web. 1 Apr <