Euthanasia is the termination of someone's life, either with their consent
or without, as a way of alleviating pain or removing unnecessary suffering.
The Law in the UK
When the patient is not going to get better, the doctor/ patient may
decide to withdraw medical treatment to allow them to die – Referred to
as non-treatment decision
Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK
Assisted death is illegal in the UK
The Sanctity of Life
- The supreme and intrinsic specialness of human life
- If life is the foundation of human experience, then protection of life
is a necessity
- Religious: life is God’s gift we are made in his image
- Non-religious: the qualities of humanity make us unique
Voluntary euthanasia
- When a person's life is ended by a third party at their own request
- ‘I will not prescribe a deathly drug to please someone’ Hippocrates
Glover
- In Jonothan Glovers book, ‘causing deaths and saving lives’, he
suggests that the helper should believe the decision is reasonable,
the helper should be convinced the decision is serious and well
thought out and that the circumstances need considering (could
they change?)
- “To refuse to provide help is a serious denial of the persons
autonomy over the matter of his own life and death”
3 common reasons for not permitting voluntary euthanasia:
1. Could lead to involuntary euthanasia
2. Could discourage people from going hospital/ getting treatment
3. Focus switched to ending life instead of improving it
or without, as a way of alleviating pain or removing unnecessary suffering.
The Law in the UK
When the patient is not going to get better, the doctor/ patient may
decide to withdraw medical treatment to allow them to die – Referred to
as non-treatment decision
Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK
Assisted death is illegal in the UK
The Sanctity of Life
- The supreme and intrinsic specialness of human life
- If life is the foundation of human experience, then protection of life
is a necessity
- Religious: life is God’s gift we are made in his image
- Non-religious: the qualities of humanity make us unique
Voluntary euthanasia
- When a person's life is ended by a third party at their own request
- ‘I will not prescribe a deathly drug to please someone’ Hippocrates
Glover
- In Jonothan Glovers book, ‘causing deaths and saving lives’, he
suggests that the helper should believe the decision is reasonable,
the helper should be convinced the decision is serious and well
thought out and that the circumstances need considering (could
they change?)
- “To refuse to provide help is a serious denial of the persons
autonomy over the matter of his own life and death”
3 common reasons for not permitting voluntary euthanasia:
1. Could lead to involuntary euthanasia
2. Could discourage people from going hospital/ getting treatment
3. Focus switched to ending life instead of improving it
