Euthanasia

Euthanasia

1. Definition - the termination of a persons life, either with or without their consent as a way of alleviating or removing unnecessary suffering

   • come from two Greek words - Eu meaning good and Thanos meaning death

2. Cases

   • Annie Lindsell
     • Suffered from moter neurone disease
     • Requested the high court to llow a doctor to administer her with diamorphine, a drug that would shorten and eventually end her life
   • Tony Bland
     • Victim of the Hillsborough disaster
       • Left in a persistant vegetative state. It was believed that Bland would never recover as there was no cure for his ailment
     • Could only have a passive euthanasia through withdrawl of food and liquids
       • In Febuary 1993 Bland passed away

3. Role of a doctor

   • To preserve the quality of a persons life by healing
   • Hippocratic oath
     • Do not willingly harm another
     • set of requirements that a doctor should follow
     • 'I will not prescribe a deadly drug to please someone nor give them advice that may cause their death'
   • Opinions
     • Some doctos feel that euthanasia is the morall right think to assit their patients in the end of their life just as it was to assist them throughout their lives.
     • Others believe that a doctos responsability is only to heal, prevent disease and assist people in living a healthy life.

4. UK Law

   • Active or direct euthanasia
     • Anything that involves the administering of a treatment or drug in order to shorten or end a person's life is illegal even with consent
   • Passive or indirect euthanasia
     • The withdrawl of treatment in order to bring about their death in a legal and widely practiced manner.
   • Is a criminal offense in most countries.
     • In Holland around 1000 assisted deaths take place a year