EUTHANASIA
Short and Long term Effects
(political, economic, social)
Social-
§
Abuse and
neglect might become more common if euthanasia is part of society.
§
People may
feel obligated to end their life sooner if they contract a disease.
§
Someone could use euthanasia as an excuse to end their life, even
though they may not be in pain.
§ The elderly, people of not “sound mind”, and
people with disabilities may be discriminated in society. (
For example, being forced or influenced to end their life earlier).
§
However,
there are many social implications
§
It is a
controversial issue, where people on both sides of the debate feel their
approach is the most humane.
Economically->
§
Keeping people alive who no longer have a quality life and wish to
die: Costs the government money.
§
( and tax payers)
§
They take
up hospital beds, use life support machines and
require medical assistance.
§
There are already financial pressures when it comes to health care.
§
These
pressures will continue to multiply with
the coming years as our population grows.
§
The Canadian Court
Systems are also effected economically.
Politically->
§
Under
Canadian Law euthanasia is illegal.
§
The debate over legalizing euthanasia has been debated in Canada for years.
§
Euthanasia
is legal in the Netherlands and Oregon, USA. Long term effect->
§
If legalized people experiencing destructible pain can end their
suffering.
§
Short term
effectsà
§
The family members of the deceased become emotionally unstable. It is
a hard and trying experience when a plug is pulled on a loved one, and
they question afterwards if there still might of
been hope.
§
There are many short term emotional effects that Euthanasia causes.
Euthanasia an Overview
§
The
word Euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu
means "good" and thanatos means
"death".
§
Passive Euthanasia:
§
Hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting
nature take its course.
§
For
example:
§
Removing life support equipment (e.g. turning off a respirator)
§
Stopping medical procedures, medications etc.,
§
Active Euthanasia:
§
This involves causing the death of a person through a
direct action, in response to a request from that person.
§
A
well known example was the mercy killing in 1998 of a patient with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) by Dr. Jack Kevorkian,
a Michigan physician.
Euthanasia Continued
§
Physician Assisted Suicide:
§
A
physician supplies information and/or the means of committing suicide (e.g. a
prescription for lethal dose of sleeping pills, or a supply of carbon monoxide
gas) to a person, so that they can easily terminate their own life.
§
The
term "voluntary passive euthanasia" is becoming commonly
used.
§
Dr. Kevorkian, who has
promoted this type of euthanasia and assisted at the deaths of hundreds of patients.
§
Involuntary Euthanasia:
§
This
term is used by some to describe the killing of a person who has not explicitly
requested aid in dying. They will probably never obtain consciousness
.
§
It
violates one's natural desire to live.
§
It
harms other people.
Ethical Aspects of Euthanasia
Is Euthanasia Ethical?
§
Who
is to say that you cannot end your life if you are terminally ill?
§
Some
terminally ill patients are in intractable pain and/or experience an
intolerably poor quality of life. They would prefer to end their life rather
than continue until their body finally gives up.
§
Should terminally ill people be given the right to commit suicide?
§
Suicide is a legal act that is theoretically available
to all. But a person who is terminally ill or who is in a hospital setting or
is disabled may not be able to exercise this option - either because of mental
or physical limitations. In effect, they are being discriminated against
because of their disability. ·
§
On the other side,
people believe that because they are not of “sound mind” therefore they cannot
make this vital decision.
Should the
personal beliefs of some religious followers decide public policy in regards to
Euthanasia ?
§
“Many faith groups believe that human suffering can
have a positive value for the terminally ill person and for caregivers.
§
On the other side,
people feel that religious beliefs should not have any effect on the laws of
society. Public policy should be purely based on ethical decisions
§
Who
is to say what a tolerable level of pain is?
§
Many
people argue that pain experienced by terminally ill people can be controlled
to tolerable levels through proper management.
§
They
conclude that there is no need for physician assisted suicide.
§
On the other side,
people believe that if you are suffering from terminal pain if you wish to
dies, you should be granted that wish.
Ethical
Aspects of Euthanasia
§
If Euthanasia is legalized in Canada
will people feel pressure to die?
§
By
making assisted suicide and/or euthanasia available, some people will be
pressured into accepting assistance in dying by their families.
§
People may be influenced by other people and feel that
they should commit suicide.
§
Is
it ethical to engage in extremely expensive treatment of terminally ill people
in order to extend their lives by a few weeks?
§
The
money used in this way is not available for pre-natal care, infant care, etc.
where it would save lives, and significantly improve the long-term quality of
life for others.
Religious Views on Euthanasia
§
Catholics believe euthanasia is morally wrong because it is the
destruction of life.
§
Say “yes”
to life– from the first moment of conception until last natural breath.
§
Christians
believe that they were created by god therefore they should stick to God’s
chosen plan for them.
§
Jewish
views on Euthanasia
§
Forbids anything that might shorten life
§
However,
doctors are not required to let the dying process last longer then it normally
would..
§
Sikhs view
on euthanasia
§
Believe
that life is a gift of God.
§
The timing of birth and death should be left in God's hands.
§
The Sikh
Gurus rejected suicide (euthanasia) as an interference in God's plan.
§
Believe
that suffering is due to karma. They should accept this and make the best out
of life in terms of the karma given to them.
§
Hindu
views on euthanasia
§
“Most
Hindus would say that a doctor should not accept a patient's request for
euthanasia since this will cause the soul and body to be separated at an
unnatural time.”
§
The result will damage the karma of both doctor and patient.
§
Euthanasia
goes against the belief of ahimsa. However, some Hindus believe that ending
someone’s life that is suffering from agonizing pain is morally accepted.
§
Buddhist
views on Euthanasia
§
are
against involuntary euthanasia. Unclear view on voluntary Euthanasia
§
Islamic
views on Euthanasia
§
Muslims
are against euthanasia.
§
“They
believe that all human life is sacred because it is given by Allah, and that
Allah chooses how long each person will live. Human beings should not interfere
in this.”
The Law and Euthanasia
§
Should the law regarding Euthanasia in Canada be changed?
§
Should Voluntary Euthanasia be Legalized?
§
On one sideà
§
Deter
people from advancing their own ends by aiding or abetting clinically depressed
individuals, and those of lower intelligence.
§
Some people believe that those who are terminally ill or suffering
from severe mental and/or physical damage should be allowed to die instead of
being kept alive by machines.
§
People
should be allowed to make decisions for others who are suffering and cannot
express their own wishes.
§
Conclusion:
Supporters of Euthanasia believe that life should be free of pain and that
human dignity should be preserved.
§
On the other sideà
§
Could cause harm
§
If pain management is required, then it should be available even if
it does nothing to prolong life.
§
Law should
protect people who are mentally unsound, who cannot consent to euthanasia.
·
Would Legalizing Euthanasia lead to involuntary killing?
Should Physicians Assist in Suicide?
·
Would Legalizing Euthanasia lead to involuntary killing?
§
People
argue that if physician-assisted suicide becomes legal, it will inevitably be
used by the government to eliminate individuals whose live seem burdensome or
without value.
§ For example, in Nazi Germany Hitler decided in
September 1939, that because of the desperate need for hospital beds to
accommodate war causalities, a euthanasia program was undertaken.
§
This open numerous hospital bed for the war wounded. Is this ethical?
§ Sometimes it is
troublesome, and financially burdening for families to care for elders, the
sick, and the severely disabled. In result of this people may choose euthanasia
as a option for their troubles.
§
On the other side
§
Legalizing
euthanasia would not be abused by the Canadian government because Canadians
would not allow it.
§ In the Netherlands,
physicians have been practicing euthanasia.
§
If their
society is highly civilized, liberal, and a humane nation this shows that legalizing
euthanasia will not lead to involuntary killing.
§
Should
Physicians Assist in Suicide?
§
On one side
§
If the
patient requests it, assisted suicide is an act of compassion and benevolence.
§
Sometimes
in extreme circumstances, the best thing a physician can do is help someone die
in order to relieve intolerable, unnecessary suffering that makes life
unbearable as judged by the patient.
§
Sometimes
ending suffering takes priority over extending life
§
On the other side
§
Hippocratic
Oath forbids physicians from practicing assisted
suicide.
Work’s Cited
§
Torr
D. James, ed. Euthanasia Opposing Viewpoints.
§
California:
Greenhaven Press, 2000.
§
Somerville, Margaret.
Death Talk The Case against Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. Canada:
McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2001.
§
Hawkins N. Gail, ed. Physician Assisted Suicide.
§
California:
Greenhaven Press, 2002.
§
Prado G. C.,ed. Assisted
Suicide Canadian Perspectives.
§
Ottawa: University of Ottawa
Press, 2000.
§
Donnelly, John, ed. Suicide Second Edition Right or
Wrong?
§
New York:
Prometheus Books, 1998.
§
McCuen E.
Gary. Doctor Assisted Suicide and the Euthanasia Movement.
§
United States
of America: Gary E. McCuen Publications, Inc., 1999.
§ Euthanasia.com. Information for
Research on Euthanasia, Physician-Assisted Suicide,Living Wills, Mercy Killing. http://www.euthanasia.com/.
( 15 April 2005)
§ Cundiff, David. Euthanasia Is Not
the Answer: A Hospice Physician's View.
U.S.A: Humana Press , 1992.