1 / 19

Medical Ethics: Euthanasia

Medical Ethics: Euthanasia. What does euthanasia mean?. • Literally means “good death”. • Often called “mercy killing”. Sometimes referred to as physician (doctor) assisted suicide. British Medical Association (BMA) Guidelines. • The BMA does not want euthanasia legalised.

hallie
Download Presentation

Medical Ethics: Euthanasia

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Medical Ethics: Euthanasia

  2. What does euthanasia mean? • Literally means “good death”. • Often called “mercy killing”. • Sometimes referred to as physician (doctor) assisted suicide.

  3. British Medical Association (BMA) Guidelines • The BMA does not want euthanasia legalised. • Euthanasia goes against the role of doctors as healers. • The doctor has to abide by the law. • Euthanasia maybe appropriate for some but it’s wrong for society as could be abused. • Interests of society overrule individuals. • Doctors performing euthanasia would change the way society sees them.

  4. Euthanasia in the Netherlands • Patient must personally request. • They must be terminally ill. • Must be last resort. • 2 doctors must agree it’s best for patient. • 12 − 16 year olds need parental consent unless doctors think they can make decision. • Legal for patients with mental or psychological illness. • Patient must live in Netherlands.

  5. Arguments for legalising voluntary euthanasia • Respects patient’s choices and shows respect for human rights. • Ends suffering and shows respect for life. • It’s humane for animals, why not humans? • It ends the relative’s suffering and anguish. • Economic argument: saves money and frees beds. • Modern medical care cannot remove all suffering. • Medicine sometimes prolongs life when they would have died naturally escaping suffering.

  6. Arguments for legalising involuntary euthanasia • It’s an act of mercy to end suffering. • The patient may not be able to ask for euthanasia. • The patient maybe asked for it before but no longer able to. • Many patients would choose it if they could. • It allows the patient to die with dignity.

  7. Arguments against legalising euthanasia • It is an easy option; we shouldn’t just be allowed to end our lives when we feel like it. • It devalues life and encourages killing others e.g. the disabled. • People will lose respect and trust for medical staff. • Many recover after being told they will die. • It’s the doctor’s job to preserve life - not to end it. • It ends life − it is legalised killing. • It’s the beginning of a slippery slope.

  8. Christian View: Against Euthanasia • Euthanasia is against the law of God – John Paul ll. • No one can allow the killing of an innocent human. No one should ask for this act. – Catholic Truth Society. • Human life is on loan from God. We must care for one another – Church of Scotland. • Suffering is accepted because of hope of life after death. • There can be a purpose in suffering. • Hospices are an alternative. • Life is sacred and gift from God – Job 1:21. • Do not commit murder − Exodus 20:13.

  9. Christian View: For Euthanasia • “Love neighbour as yourself” Luke 10:27. Euthanasia is compassion. Cruel to prolong life if suffering. • God gave freedom; should have freedom to choose when to die. • Illegal to allow animals to suffer; people more important than animals (Genesis 1:26) so shouldn’t let them suffer. . • Doctor don’t just save lives; they do what is best for the patient. • Kind to lessen suffering of relatives and friends. • Relieves burden on families and society. • Quality of life important not quantity. .

  10. Muslim View: Against Euthanasia • No one dies unless Allah permits. The term of every life is fixed – Surah 3:145. • Euthanasia is suicide, which is wrong. It interferes with Allah’s will. • Suffering is part of Allah’s will. Surah 31:17. • It is the code of life the doctor aims to maintain and not the process of dying – Islamic Code of Medical Ethics, 1981. • Anyone who kills a believer deliberately will live in hell forever. God will be angry and curse him and prepare torment for him – Surah 4:93. .

  11. Non-Religious (Secular) View: For Euthanasia British Humanist Association: • Supports voluntary euthanasia out of concern for quality of life. • People should have right to choose when they die. • Supports attempts to reform law to allow voluntary euthanasia. • Individual wishes should be respected.

  12. EXIT • Support right to choose. • Support voluntary euthanasia as an option for everyone. • Patients and doctors should be protected in carrying out voluntary euthanasia. • Euthanasia should be made legal. • Safeguards for voluntary euthanasia must be introduced.

  13. Should Doctors Perform Euthanasia? Yes • If patient requests euthanasia, doctor respecting human rights. • Doctor acts in the patient’s best interests. • Law is wrong and should be changed. No •It’s against the law and is murder. • It will create mistrust in doctors. • Doctors should preserve life not deliberately end it. • Failure of doctors to act may result in assisted suicide. • Religious beliefs of doctors can influence their views.

  14. Only doctors should decide about euthanasia. Yes • Doctors are experts and know best. • Doctors not emotionally involved so can make best decision. • Doctors responsible for patient care. No • Doctors make mistakes in 40% of cases. • Doctors may be influenced by things like costs. • Family may also want to be involved in the decision.

  15. Other Options for the Terminally Ill. • Advances in treatment can provide ways of treating most illnesses. • Palliative care can provide pain relief in the majority of cases. • Hospices provide support and possibility of a dignified death. • Specialist nurses provide care for patient in their own home.

  16. Euthanasia Suggests Some Lives Not Worth Living? Agree • Quality of life is more important than quantity. • If someone is suffering with no pain relief their life is not worth living. • If someone is in coma with no hope of recovery the money used to care for them could help others. Disagree • All life equally valuable. • As long as someone is alive there is hope of improving the quality of life. • Once a life ends it cannot be restored.

  17. Should Voluntary Euthanasia Be Legal? Yes • It would lead to a greater respect for the quality of life. • Would allow NHS funds to be used more efficiently, helping those who can recover. • Society will benefit as it shows respect for rights of the individual. • Not good for people to be allowed to suffer in any way.

  18. No • Could lead to human life being devalued. • Could mean pressure would be put on the terminally ill or elderly to allow themselves to be killed. • May change the way society sees illness or disability. • May lead to fewer medical treatments being developed as not needed as urgently.

  19. Divide your page into 4 and label each quarter as follows-

More Related