‘How relevant is the argument for legalising
euthanasia in the United Kingdom?’
,
, Introduction
It has been estimated that 350 (DIGNITAS, n.d.) British citizens have travelled to Switzerland
since the country’s legalisation of assisted dying with the intention of ending their lives,
however, despite this knowledge, Parliament still refuses to address the legalisation of a
‘dignified death’ in the UK. The idea of euthanasia originates from the Greek words ‘eu’ and
‘thanatos’, which combined and translated means ‘good death’ in the English language.
Assisted dying has been marketed as enabling a suffering individual to ‘die with dignity’ as
they are allowed to end their life with a sense of identity instead of being, for example,
somebody who died of cancer; an idea which metaphorically can be understood as ‘having
the last word’ against one's oppressor. However, some argue that the legalisation of
assisted dying would be religiously sinful due to its resemblance to murder as well as its
interference with the nature of life and death. Traditionally, there are several categories of
euthanasia, however, this report is in reference to assisted dying, which is considered as
being the most morally correct as it is undertaken by a physician at the request of the
patient; an example of this would be a physician providing “a patient with a terminal illness a
drug they do not otherwise need, such as an overdose of sedatives or muscle relaxant, with
the sole aim of ending their life.” (Euthanasia and assisted suicide, 2022)
Many argue that assisted dying is morally acceptable as it enables the inhumane suffering of
another to end with consent unlike the immoral unacceptance of involuntary euthanasia. (the
euthanasion of another's life despite expressing a desire to live.)
I have chosen to investigate the relevance for the argument of legalising euthanasia in the
United Kingdom by considering the ‘fors’ and ‘against’, by analysing the arguments of
religion, ideas of classism as well as the slippery slope argument. Since 1997, there have
been 9 attempts to legalise assisted dying in the UK, however many believe the law has not
been passed as the idea of euthanasia is not a ‘relevant’ enough factor; as not everbody
believes the practice is morally correct. In this report, I will consider the argument for
legalising euthanasia in the UK, and consider whether or not the legalisation would be
justifiable.
euthanasia in the United Kingdom?’
,
, Introduction
It has been estimated that 350 (DIGNITAS, n.d.) British citizens have travelled to Switzerland
since the country’s legalisation of assisted dying with the intention of ending their lives,
however, despite this knowledge, Parliament still refuses to address the legalisation of a
‘dignified death’ in the UK. The idea of euthanasia originates from the Greek words ‘eu’ and
‘thanatos’, which combined and translated means ‘good death’ in the English language.
Assisted dying has been marketed as enabling a suffering individual to ‘die with dignity’ as
they are allowed to end their life with a sense of identity instead of being, for example,
somebody who died of cancer; an idea which metaphorically can be understood as ‘having
the last word’ against one's oppressor. However, some argue that the legalisation of
assisted dying would be religiously sinful due to its resemblance to murder as well as its
interference with the nature of life and death. Traditionally, there are several categories of
euthanasia, however, this report is in reference to assisted dying, which is considered as
being the most morally correct as it is undertaken by a physician at the request of the
patient; an example of this would be a physician providing “a patient with a terminal illness a
drug they do not otherwise need, such as an overdose of sedatives or muscle relaxant, with
the sole aim of ending their life.” (Euthanasia and assisted suicide, 2022)
Many argue that assisted dying is morally acceptable as it enables the inhumane suffering of
another to end with consent unlike the immoral unacceptance of involuntary euthanasia. (the
euthanasion of another's life despite expressing a desire to live.)
I have chosen to investigate the relevance for the argument of legalising euthanasia in the
United Kingdom by considering the ‘fors’ and ‘against’, by analysing the arguments of
religion, ideas of classism as well as the slippery slope argument. Since 1997, there have
been 9 attempts to legalise assisted dying in the UK, however many believe the law has not
been passed as the idea of euthanasia is not a ‘relevant’ enough factor; as not everbody
believes the practice is morally correct. In this report, I will consider the argument for
legalising euthanasia in the UK, and consider whether or not the legalisation would be
justifiable.
