Euthanasia

Euthanasia

1. What is it?

   • Why do certain individuals desire to end their lives in this manner?
     • Old age
       • The individual is satisfied with the life that they have had and does not believe that they have anything more to contribute to
     • Incurable medical condition
       • Causes a lot of pain /suffering
       • Terminal illness - causes death soon
   • It is often described as 'assisted suicide'

2. Why hasn't it been legalised in Australia yet?

   • Ethical Considerations
     • Do the benifits outweigh the repercussions?
     • Would it be morally correct to encourage someone to essentially 'suicide'?
     • Should there be a 'right to commit suicide' on an individual's own will?
   • Exploitation of this option
     • It may be used to end a life for the wrong reasons - for something that can be improved without needing to die
     • Who should this option be open to?
       • Terminally ill patients
       • Very elderly people
   • The vulnerability concern
     • patients who don't want to commit euthanasia might feel as though they are a burden
       • This may cause them to feel subltly pressurised (whether the pressure is actually present or just imagined) to end their lives when they don't really want to by their own free will