Transcript The elderly and death L2

To assess the arguments for and against
euthanasia.
To reflect on the moral dilemma surrounding
euthanasia.
Background:
Euthanasia
From the Greeks meaning……
EUTHA=
‘Easy’ (sometimes translated as ‘good’)
NASIA= ‘Death
Your first task: Against the clock!
• In front of you are the key terms and
definitions of the differing forms of
Euthanasia.
• Work in pairs to match the term with the
definition.
•
Look very carefully at the terms to try and help you decide.
Time allowed: just 2 minutes!
VOLUNTARY
EUTHANASIA
INVOLUNTARY
EUTHANASIA
PASSIVE
Euthanasia is performed because the patient
has asked for it. e.g. a cancer patient who asks
for a drug to quicken their death
Euthanasia is performed without the dying
person being told. e.g. a coma patient.
EUTHANASIA
Doctors give a painkilling drug but do nothing
to save the patient.
ACTIVE
EUTHANASIA
Doctors give the patient pain killing drugs
knowing that the drug will also kill the patient.
COMPULSORY
EUTHANASIA
Euthanasia has to be performed because a
person has a certain illness or has reached a
certain age. (NOT LEGAL)
Double-Effect
• DOUBLE-EFFECT is when someone takes
one action, such as giving pain killers to
someone who is terminally ill, they cannot
be blamed for the second effect (e.g. their
death)
• DOUBLE EFFECT IS LEGAL….
What about other countries?
• In April 2002, The Netherlands became the
first European country to legalise euthanasia
and assisted suicide.
• It had already been happening, before that
but doctors had been risking prosecution
• About 4000 people die of euthanasia each year in
the Netherlands
• 90% of the population support it
Christian views
Most Christians
– Euthanasia is wrong
• Sanctity of Life Principle
• Do not kill – Ten
Commandments
BUT
– Switching off life support is not
euthanasia if the person is brain
dead
• If someone is brain dead they
have already died so switching
off machine is accepting God’s
decision
– Not euthanasia to give dying
people painkillers which will
shorten their life (double effect)
Some Christians
• All forms of euthanasia are
wrong
– Take the Bible literally and
the Bible bans suicide.
– Assisted suicide and
voluntary euthanasia are both
forms of suicide.
– Switching off machines and
giving large doses of
painkillers is equal to murder.
Islam & Euthanasia
All Muslims are against euthanasia, however…
Completely against because
the Qur’an bans suicide
– Sanctity of life
– Life is a test, ending it
early is like cheating and
leads to hell
However some Muslims do not
agree that switching off life
support machine is euthanasia
– Some Muslim lawyers have agreed
this
– If someone is brain dead they have
already died so switching off
machine is accepting God’s
decision
Your second task:
In pairs read and discuss the arguments for and
against euthanasia and choose up to five for each that
you think are the most important.
• Now choose from these arguments the ones you think
are the strongest and add them to the ‘weighing up the
argument sheets’.
In your books answer the following:
 Do you have a ‘balanced’ sheet or more arguments on one side?
 Would someone with a ‘religious led ethic’ agree with your view?
Give reasons for your answer.
You are on a government committee who are deciding whether or
not to make euthanasia legal.
Read the real-life articles
Think about how you would feel if you were in the same situation as
one of the people below.
Also base your decision on whether legalising euthanasia would
benefit society as a whole.
You must consider the issues already discussed and don’t forget we
are in a country that has many people who have religious based
ethics, would the majority of the population of Britain accept your
decision?
To assess the arguments for and against
euthanasia.
To reflect on the moral dilemma surrounding
euthanasia.