Oral+Presentation+Case+13

= Oral Presentation Case 13 =

//Elderly patients have the right to end their lives in a respectful manner and when they choose.

Is euthanasia “playing God”, or “the right to die”?//

Background
The term 'euthanasia' refers to actions or omissions that result in the death of a person who is already gravely ill. Techniques of active euthanasia range from gunfire to lethal injection, while passive euthanasia can be achieved by failing to treat a pneumonia or by witholding or withdrawing ventilatory support.

Euthanasia is illegal in most countries, although doctors do sometimes carry out euthanasia even where it is illegal.

**Stakeholders** ** and values ** patient - right to quality of life, pain relief, right to die/live, autonomy, benefits of staying alive vs death society - cost of maintaining a dying person on life support is very expensive, opportunity cost ( dying patients usually can't provide much additional economic productive value to society, but drain healthcare cost) - social consequences of euthanasia ( misuse by suicidal people, death an easier choice -> will more people opt for this option? people give up more easily? possibility of disguised murder?) relatives of the dying - watching loved ones' great suffering and distress vs keeping loved one alive religious groups- do they have the right to tell everyone what to do? should their definition of life be applicable to all?

Consequentialism ** Those in favour of euthanasia argue that a civilised society should allow people to die in dignity and without pain, and should allow others to help them do so if they cannot manage it on their own. They say that our bodies are our own, and we should be allowed to do what we want with them. So it's wrong to make anyone live longer than they want. In fact making people go on living when they don't want to violates their personal freedom and human rights.It's immoral, they say to force people to continue living in suffering and pain. They add that as suicide is not a crime, euthanasia should not be a crime.
 * Why euthanasia should be allowed**

Religious opponents of euthanasia believe that life is given by God, and only God should decide when to end it. Other opponents fear that if euthanasia was made legal, the laws regulating it would be abused, and people would be killed who didn't really want to die.
 * Why euthanasia should be forbidden**

Resources
[|EuthanasiaProCon.org]: a site detailing responses to the question "Should euthanasia be legal?" [|BBC - Ethical Issues:Euthanasia]: an indepth look into euthanasia, including arguments for and against, and the view from a number of religions [|news.com.au: Euthanasia]: a story on a lady asking the French President to allow her to die with dignity