“How dare doctors tell me I am not allowed to die?” - to what extent can euthanasia be ethical?

Provided by Celine Cheung.

• http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/09/euthanasia-isnt-a-political-wedge-issue-dying-patients-deserve-better
• http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/27/opinion/opinion-anti-euthanasia-kevin-fitzpatrick/index.html

​Definitions:

Aggressive euthanasia: when medical professionals/others deliberately does something that causes the patient to die. Usually lethal substances are used.
Passive euthanasia: This is when i) doctors don’t do things that would keep the patient alive, e.g. don’t give them treatment, or ii) when doctors stop doing something that is keeping the patient alive, e.g. switching off the life-support/disconnecting the feeding tube.
Assisted suicide: when the patient needs help to die, and another person helps them, e.g. by giving them drugs.
Voluntary euthanasia: requested by the patient.
Involuntary euthanasia: when the patient is unconscious or unable to make the decision (e.g. infants, children, mentally disordered, patients in a coma or senile patients), so someone appropriate, often blood related, decides.


Questions:
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• To ‘cause death’ (aggressive euthanasia) and to ‘let die ’(passive euthanasia) : do these two have the same level of morality?

• Euthanasia is also known as ‘mercy killing’ and means ‘good death’ in greek. To what extent do you think that this is ethical?
• Is there a difference between:
  • i) Involuntary euthanasia and murder?
  • ii) Voluntary euthanasia and suicide?

• Do people have the right to choose to die?
• Do family members have the right to turn off life support or make the decision to end the patient’s life when he/she is unable to?
• By allowing the euthanasia of the old/disabled/disadvantaged, are we implying that their lives are worth less than ours?
  • Is the killing of mentally/physically disabled new borns less unacceptable?
  • What are your thoughts on the legalisation of euthanasia of pets?
• What would be some of the consequences of allowing euthanasia? 
  • Would the disabled/elderly be pressurised to end their lives as they might feel like they are a burden to the family?

• Are there ways that we can regulate euthanasia if it is legalised?

• Pain is very personal. Shouldn’t a person be able to say that his/her pain and suffering is too much to bear and that they should be free?
  • What problems could this lead to?
• If doctors are able to facilitate euthanasia, are we giving them too much power to kill?
• Aren’t doctors supposed to ‘heal’ instead of ‘kill’?

• What role does religion play in this issue? (Most religions, including christianity, are against suicide)

• Do you agree with euthanasia? Do you think that it should be legalised?