1. Relevance to the 21st Century
Euthanasia
Relevance to the 21st Century RG

2. Euthanasia – when a person takes action to end the life of a patient
Active – directly taking life (example: giving a lethal dose of drugs)
Passive – indirectly taking life
(example: turning off a respirator)
Physician- Assisted Sucide – when a physician gives a patient the means to end his/her life

3. Advocating Euthanasia
ETHICS
Advocating Euthanasia
A terminally ill patient should not have to die in a state of great pain and suffering, with no hope of ever becoming healthy.
Euthanasia would allow a patient to end a life that they consider meaningless and full of misery.

4. Advocating Euthanasia
ETHICS
Advocating Euthanasia
A person should have control over his/her own body.
This should include the right to decide whether to terminate one’s own life.
Legalizing suicide and not euthanasia is contradictory.

5. ETHICS There is great value on human life.
Against Euthanasia
There is great value on human life.
Ending a person’s life is murder.
Even if it is because the patient wishes it, the act is homicide and should be considered a criminal offense.

6. ETHICS
Against Euthanasia
Physicians take the Hippocratic Oath; they are healers and should not be permitted to end lives.
Permitting physicians to take lives would disable doctor-patient trust.

7. Who should make these life and death decisions?
Abuse of Power?
Should euthanasia be performed on those who are not competent to decide for themselves?
Children and infants
Mentally ill
Who should make these life and death decisions?

8. Illegal in Canada and in the United States, except the state of Oregon
Legalization
Illegal in Canada and in the United States, except the state of Oregon
Considered as homicide
Legalized in the Netherlands

9. Potential Consequences of Legalization
Abuse by government and by healthcare professionals
“Slippery Slope”
Specific guidelines must be put in place
Encouragement of suicide
Society placing decreased value on life

10. Importance to 21st Century
The termination of life is a major issue because medical technology is advancing
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Governments may decide to implement euthanasia to lessen costs of palliative care
Personal autonomy – the definition of rights, and the debate concerning whether people have a right to choose death are relevant independent of the time period

11. Do people have a right to die?

12. References
The de Veber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research (1998) Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Retrieved December 2, 2007 on the World Wide Web: <
Dixon, N. (1998, September). On the Difference between Physician-Assisted Suicide and Active Euthanasia. Hasting Center Report, 28 (5), 25. Retrieved December 2, , from Health Source - Consumer Edition database.
Gittelman, David K. (1999, April). Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. Southern Medical Journal, 92(4), Retrieved December 2, 2007, from Health Source -Consumer Edition database.
Harris, Nancy (Ed.). (2005). The Ethics of Euthanasia. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press.
Lavery, James V., Dickens, Bernard M., Boyle, Joseph M., Singer, Peter A. (1997) Bioethics for Clinicians: 11. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Retrieved December 2, 2007 on the World Wide Web: <
100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmaj/vol-156/issue-10/1405.htm>
McTeer, Maureen. (1999). Tough Choices: Living and Dying in the 21st Century. Toronto, Ontario: Irwin Law.