1. Voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia
Learning objective:
To know the difference between voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia and to consider the arguments for and against them.
Key Words
Voluntary euthanasia
Non-voluntary euthanasia

2. Voluntary euthanasia
When a person’s life is ended painlessly by a third party at their own request. Create a table of arguments for and against voluntary euthanasia using pages of your blue textbook. How convincing are the 3 common reasons against it?

3. Non-voluntary euthanasia
Euthanasia without request.
Issues:
Who should decide when it is right to remove treatment or switch off life support?
Must the patient be in a state where they definitely won’t recover or could you withdraw treatment when there is a chance they could?

4. Jonathan Glover – 5 options
Should we:
Take all possible steps to preserve life?
Take all ordinary steps, but not extraordinary steps, to preserve life?
Not kill, but take no steps to preserve life?
Act in a way which does not intend to kill but has death as a foreseen additional effect (like the doctrine of double effect)?
Perform a deliberate act of killing.
Problems with these options?

5. The slippery slope argument
The slippery slope argument views decisions not on their own, but as the potential beginning of a trend. In general form, this argument says that if we allow something seemingly acceptable today, we may start a trend that results in something currently unthinkable becoming accepted. For example, people worry that if voluntary euthanasia were to be made legal, it would not be long before involuntary euthanasia would start to happen. How legitimate do you think this concern is?

6. Homework
Blue textbook – read the case study Simon’s choice (p ) Answer the two questions on p.245 in the pink box.