Title:

Voluntary Euthanasia

Publish Date:

January 2012

ISBN:

978 1 86168 612 1

Covering Ages:

11 to 14 years

Issue Description

The euthanasia debate has been brought under the media spotlight in recent years, following a number of high-profile cases in which terminally-ill patients have campaigned for a change to the assisted suicide legislation. Author Terry Pratchett’s recent documentary, which featured a man ending his life at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland, caused widespread controversy. This book looks at the ethical and medical issues surrounding the assisted dying debate.
The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper articles, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.

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Price:

£5.95

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Key Facts

• The word ‘euthanasia’ comes from Greek and means ‘pleasant death’. It typically refers to the killing of a person for their own (or another) good, usually to end their suffering. (page 1)

• The ‘slippery slope’ argument is based on the idea that once a healthcare service, and by extension the Government, starts killing its own citizens, a line is crossed that should have never been crossed and a dangerous precedent has been set. (page 4)

• The medical ethics argument states that legalising euthanasia would violate one of the most important medical ethics, which in the words of the International Code of Medical Ethics is: ‘A doctor must always bear in mind the obligation of preserving human life from conception’. (page 5)

• Under English law, all adults have the right to refuse medical treatment, even if that treatment is required to save their life, as long as they have sufficient capacity (the ability to use and understand information to make a decision). (page 9)

• Some 7% of disabled people would be concerned if the law on assisted suicide were to change because they feel it would lead to pressure being placed on disabled people to end their lives. (page 12)

• The Suicide Act gives the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) the authority to judge whether to prosecute cases of assisting or encouraging suicide – a decision is taken as to whether prosecution is in the public interest. (page 17)

• At least 150 UK citizens are known to have ended their lives at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, with up to 800 more believed to be members. (page 19)

• A Daily Telegraph survey found that a large majority (75%) of the British population think that legislation on euthanasia should be changed to allow some degree of assisted suicide. Just over two-thirds (67%) think that doctors in particular should have the legal power to end the life of a terminally-ill patient who has personally given a clear indication of wanting to die. (page 20)

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Table of Contents

Chapter One: Debating the Ethics

Euthanasia, Arguments for and against euthanasia, A humanist discussion of euthanasia, Alternatives to euthanasia and assisted suicide, Poll shows disabled people’s fears over assisted suicide, Support grows for ‘right to die’, Activities.

Chapter Two: Euthanasia and the Law

Assisted dying and the status quo, Majority would support more compassionate euthanasia legislation, Fearful elderly people carry ‘anti-euthanasia cards’, Your right to refuse future medical treatment, End-of-life care survey, Activities.

Key facts
Glossary

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