Euthanasia Euthanasia is it really worth it ?is it really worth it ?

Michael Di MarinoMichael Di MarinoSBI4U SBI4U

Mr. WattsMr. Watts

http://www.deathreference.com/images/medd_02_img0110.jpg

What is Euthanasia ?What is Euthanasia ?

Euthanasia comes from the Greek Euthanasia comes from the Greek antiquity meaning Good (Eu) Death antiquity meaning Good (Eu) Death (thanatos)(thanatos)

Euthanasia today Euthanasia today is the intentional termination of ones is the intentional termination of ones

life, by a painless method, by another life, by a painless method, by another at the clear request of the person who at the clear request of the person who dies.dies.

Different types of Different types of Euthanasia Euthanasia

Passive Euthanasia-Passive Euthanasia- The The speeding upspeeding up the death of a the death of a person, who is terminally ill, by person, who is terminally ill, by altering altering some form of some form of support and lettingsupport and letting nature nature take its course. take its course. Ex. The withholding or removing of life support from a patientEx. The withholding or removing of life support from a patient Stopping medication Stopping medication

QUESTION – Is there really a difference ? QUESTION – Is there really a difference ?

Active EuthanasiaActive Euthanasia – – causing causing the death of a person, who is the death of a person, who is terminally ill, through a terminally ill, through a direct actiondirect action in response from that in response from that person. person. Ex. Injecting of lethal medications.Ex. Injecting of lethal medications. Removing tubesRemoving tubes

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Different types of Different types of EuthanasiaEuthanasia

Physician Assisted Suicide or Voluntary Passive EuthanasiaPhysician Assisted Suicide or Voluntary Passive Euthanasia – – A physician A physician supplies informationsupplies information and or the means of and or the means of committing suicide to a person, committing suicide to a person, terminally illterminally ill or or in painin pain from from disabilitiesdisabilities, so that they can easily terminate their own life , so that they can easily terminate their own life painlessly.painlessly. Ex. Physician prescribing a lethal does of sleeping pills to the Ex. Physician prescribing a lethal does of sleeping pills to the

patientpatient Delivering lethal amounts of morphine to a patient Delivering lethal amounts of morphine to a patient

These Types of euthanasia are very These Types of euthanasia are very controversialcontroversial

Involuntary EuthanasiaInvoluntary Euthanasia – The killing of a person who has – The killing of a person who has not not explicitly requestedexplicitly requested aid in aid in dying.dying.

Removing life support of a patient in a vegetable stateRemoving life support of a patient in a vegetable state

What causes people to resort to Euthanasia? What causes people to resort to Euthanasia?

Excessive Chronic Pain-Excessive Chronic Pain-

Pain becomes un bare able Pain becomes un bare able anymore and want the anymore and want the problem to be solved problem to be solved

Money-Money- lack of this, force lack of this, force people into making choices people into making choices they don’t want to make. they don’t want to make. (above)(above)

Depression Depression – – people believe people believe their life is meaninglesstheir life is meaningless Decide that suicide would Decide that suicide would

solve their problem.solve their problem. Does it ? Does it ? Seems to solve a Seems to solve a

temporary problem temporary problem

Terminal Illness Terminal Illness Don’t want to diminish their life Don’t want to diminish their life

assets on LARGE medical billsassets on LARGE medical bills

Serious disorder Serious disorder Effects their way of life, and they Effects their way of life, and they

do not want to live anymoredo not want to live anymore Is it better to be dead though?Is it better to be dead though?

Diagnosed with Progressive Diagnosed with Progressive illnessillness Fear of losing the quality of life Fear of losing the quality of life

they have they have Lose of Independence Lose of Independence

From the lose of personal dignity From the lose of personal dignity

Is Euthanasia Is Euthanasia Legal ?Legal ?

In some forms, yes In some forms, yes Active and Passive euthanasia have been preformed by all most every Active and Passive euthanasia have been preformed by all most every

doctor. doctor.

When it comes to When it comes to Physician Assisted SuicidePhysician Assisted Suicide, it is , it is ILLEGAL ILLEGAL in most in most placesplaces In Canada it is crime everywhere to perform this. In Canada it is crime everywhere to perform this.

But, in some places this is accepted.But, in some places this is accepted. The Netherlands The Netherlands PASPAS is is toleratedtolerated, as well as Australia’s Northern territory, , as well as Australia’s Northern territory,

and the state of Oregon. and the state of Oregon. These places have harsh These places have harsh restriction restriction on PAS on PAS

This is still a topic debated in many nations, even Canada, around the This is still a topic debated in many nations, even Canada, around the worldworld

It is not legal though to tell someone to just kill you!It is not legal though to tell someone to just kill you!

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Why is Euthanasia an Why is Euthanasia an issue ?issue ?

Suicide is Suicide is NOT NOT illegalillegal

And passive + active euthanasia is not illegal.And passive + active euthanasia is not illegal.

Theses are not illegal because Theses are not illegal because everyone has the right toeveryone has the right to their own life. Like stated in the their own life. Like stated in the Canadian Criminal Code.Canadian Criminal Code.

This is an issue because of This is an issue because of ETHICSETHICS People don’t People don’t believebelieve you should be able to decide if you should you should be able to decide if you should

live or not. (elderly people) live or not. (elderly people) People also argue that if someone is in pain, and doesn’t wish People also argue that if someone is in pain, and doesn’t wish

to live, they should have a right to chose if they should live or to live, they should have a right to chose if they should live or not. not.

Basically people Basically people fearfear that euthanasia is just that euthanasia is just killing.killing.

EffectsEffects IF all forms of euthanasia wasIF all forms of euthanasia was legalized legalized in Canada in Canada what what would would

happen? happen?

People would People would feel feel more more obligatedobligated to end their life, if something to end their life, if something bad happened to them. bad happened to them.

Also keeping people alive cost the government + tax payers Also keeping people alive cost the government + tax payers moneymoney Why keep someone alive if they no longer have a good quality of Why keep someone alive if they no longer have a good quality of

life?life?

People could also use this as a way to just end their lives.People could also use this as a way to just end their lives.

May May forceforce people, elderly , into euthanasia. people, elderly , into euthanasia.

This has both positive and negative sides to it.This has both positive and negative sides to it.

Euthanasia in the 21Euthanasia in the 21stst centurycentury

The talk of legalization The talk of legalization Would those effects stated occur ?Would those effects stated occur ?

Is still debated on ethicsIs still debated on ethics Does not seem like a solution will be coming any time soon. Does not seem like a solution will be coming any time soon.

For now, cases around the world still occur.For now, cases around the world still occur.

Dr Kevorkian is the main person surrounding euthanasia. Dr Kevorkian is the main person surrounding euthanasia. He was the one who was arrested for PAS, many people.He was the one who was arrested for PAS, many people. He “helped” approximately 130 patients.He “helped” approximately 130 patients. And spent 10 years in prison for itAnd spent 10 years in prison for it

What are your thoughts ?What are your thoughts ?

Would youWould you be able to pull the plug on be able to pull the plug on your loved one? your loved one?

Should itShould it be your decision to pull the be your decision to pull the plug?plug?

Should itShould it be theirs ? be theirs ? This is why euthanasia is such a debated topic, This is why euthanasia is such a debated topic,

because a solution will never satisfy everyonebecause a solution will never satisfy everyone

Works Cited Works Cited

Euthanasia.Euthanasia. Retrieved December 13 Retrieved December 13thth 2009 from 2009 from http://www.markville.ss.edu.on.ca/history/religion/EUTHANASIA.htmlhttp://www.markville.ss.edu.on.ca/history/religion/EUTHANASIA.html

Euthanasia and Assisted suicide- Jack Kevorkian.Euthanasia and Assisted suicide- Jack Kevorkian. Retrieved December Retrieved December 1313thth 2009 from http://law.jrank.org/pages.1098/euthanasia-assisted- 2009 from http://law.jrank.org/pages.1098/euthanasia-assisted-suicide-jack-kevorkian.htmlsuicide-jack-kevorkian.html

Euthanasia and Physician Assist SuicideEuthanasia and Physician Assist Suicide. Retrieved December 13. Retrieved December 13thth 2009 from http://www.religioustolerance.org/euth1.htm2009 from http://www.religioustolerance.org/euth1.htm

Euthanasia in Canada.Euthanasia in Canada. Retrieved December 13 Retrieved December 13thth 2009 from 2009 from http://duhaime.rog/legalresources/criminallaw/lawarticle-100/euthanahttp://duhaime.rog/legalresources/criminallaw/lawarticle-100/euthanasia-in-canada.aspxsia-in-canada.aspx

Euthanasia-Euthanasia: History, controversy, facts. Euthanasia-Euthanasia: History, controversy, facts. Retrieved Retrieved December 13December 13thth from from http://family.jrank.org/pages/468/euthanasia.htmlhttp://family.jrank.org/pages/468/euthanasia.html