Euthanasia lesson one - Millthorpe School York

What is it?Euthanasia come from the two Greekwords ‘Eu’ meaning good and ’Thanados’meaning death. Euthanasia literally meansa good death. It is a decision made toend the life of a dying or sufferingperson.You have this definition on your key words sheet.Remember it!!

Types of EuthanasiaThere are 3 types of Euthanasia• There are three main types ofEuthanasia.• All of them are illegal in the UK.• They are:a. Voluntary euthanasiab. Assisted Suicidec. Non-voluntary euthanasiaIn your bookyou need adefinition ofeach and ananswer to thequestion abouteach type

Voluntary Euthanasia euthanasia• The patient asks a doctor to endtheir life. This could be by givingsomeone an injection that ends theirlife.

Case study – Reg CrewCase study – Reg Crew• Suicide man's 'dignified' death• A terminally-ill man told a nurse "I want to die today" just before ending hislife at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. Reg Crew, 74, who sufferedfrom motor neurone disease, died on Monday at a flat in Zurich.• He drank water laced with barbiturates under the supervision of Dignitas -an organisation which helps the terminally ill commit suicide.• Mr Crew said: "I'd never say I was tired of life, but I'm tired of the lifeI'm in and I know I am never going to be cured... so it's time to throw myhand in."I've had enough. I couldn't live another six or seven months like this."I'm gradually going out of my mind, because this is not living."• Mrs Crew said: "I'm glad for Reg's sake...it was what he wantedand he ended his life peacefully.”Do you agree with the decision that Reg Crewmade? Give a reason for your answer.

Assisted suicideThree types – Assisted Suicide• This is where you give someoneelse the things they need to endtheir own life. This could be bybuying the drugs for someone totake that would end their ownlife.

Case study – Jack KevorkianCase study – Jack Kevorkian• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6EAMD6NS9U• Listen carefully to what Terry Youksays. Do you think Jack Kevorkianshould have been sent to prison forwhat he did?

Non-voluntaryNon-voluntary euthanasia• The person is too ill to ask to die,maybe because they are“brain-dead”, but theyare helped to die becauseit is believed that is whatthey would havewanted.

Active or Passive?• All the forms of euthanasiayou have seen so far havebeen ACTIVE – in otherwords someone hasperformed a deliberateaction such as giving alethal injection.

If euthanasia does happen, it can be activePassive euthanasiaor passive• This is where treatment iswithheld or stopped becauseit’s just delaying the naturalprocess of dying.• Or increasing the dose ofmorphine to control pain,knowing that it will alsoshorten life.• Some people say this isn’teuthanasia at all.

• Euthanasia is illegalIn the UKThe law in the UK• It is seen as assisting someone to commitsuicide which goes against the Suicide Act of1961.• The law says….“a person who aids the suicide of another, oraids the attempt by another to commitsuicide shall be liable to imprisonment for aterm not exceeding fourteen years".Explain in your own words why Euthanasia is illegal inthe UK

The law in the UKThe law in the UK• So the law says that by helpingsomeone to do something that isNOT illegal, YOU will becommitting a crime.• Why do you think this is?

The law in the UK• HOWEVER switching off the lifesupport machine of a patient whohas been tested and is shown tobe “brain-dead” is noteuthanasia and is legal in theUK.• Why is this?

The The law elsewhere• In April 2002, The Netherlands becamethe first European country to legaliseeuthanasia and assisted suicide.• It had already been happening beforethat but doctors had been riskingprosecution• About 4000 people die througheuthanasia each year in the Netherlands• 90% of the population support it

Consolidation• Look at the sheet which contains sixfictitious case studies. For each one:• explain what type of euthanasia isbeing carried out• Say whether it is active or passive.

Plenary• You should have been starting to think ofarguments for and against Euthanasia asthe lesson has gone on.• Write an argument either for or againstEuthanasia on your post it note and stick iton the wall when you are asked.• We will come back to yourideas next lesson.