EUTHANASIA

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EUTHANASIA

• Presented by
• name1
• name2

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• End of Life Care and Decision MakingFaye J.
  Girsh, Ed.D.Executive Director, Hemlock Society
  USA
• (The following article was published in The
  Journal of the Hippocratic Society, Volume I,
  Fall 1997)
• Accessed on11/09/02
• www.hemlock.org/hippo.html
• Twelve Reasons...why euthanasia should not be
  legalized Peter Saunders CMF Student Secretary.
• Accessed on11/09/02
• www.cmf.org.uk/ethics/twelve.html

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Background information , definitions, history.
• The views of the first author
• The views of the second author
• Comparison (Similarities and differences)
• Evaluation -- my opinion

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Information and Definitions

• Euthanasia The intentional killing by act or
  omission of a dependent human being for his or
  her alleged benefit. (The key word here is
  "intentional". If death is not intended, it is
  not an act of euthanasia) What Euthanasia is
  NOT There is no euthanasia unless the death is
  intentionally caused by what was done or not
  done. some medical actions that are often labeled
  "passive euthanasia" are no form of euthanasia,
  since the intention to take life is lacking

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The views of Faye J. Girsh
In his article faye J.Girsh presents 18 reasons
to legalize euthanasia. For instance

• It is a humane, compassionate, safe and effective
  option to end the life of a suffering person who
  wishes it.

• Medication that only doctors can prescribe is the
  most peaceful, non violent and quickly way for a
  man to end his life

• A dying man who wishes to hasten his inevitable
  death, doesnt cause the same repercussions as
  someone who is suiciding.

• The doctors role is to relieve suffering, and
  sometimes the only way to relieve suffering may
  be to comply with the patients wish to die.

• A significant majority of Americans and doctors
  favor legalization.

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The views of Peter Saunders
In his article Peter Saunders presents 12 reasons
why euthanasia should not be legalized. for
instance

• Voluntary euthanasia is unnecessary because
  alternative treatments exists.

• Requests for voluntary euthanasia are rarely free
  and voluntary.

• Voluntary euthanasia denies patients the final
  stage of growth.

• Voluntary euthanasia gives too much power to
  doctors

• Voluntary euthanasia violates the accepted codes
  of medical ethics, not the right to die but
  the right to be killed

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COMPARISON

• Similarities
• both authors analyze the subjects considering
  many sides and issues involving the subject, like
  doctors, families, law and the patients.
• both authors summarize and talk about what should
  be done, and why.

• Differences
• J. girsh claims that theres not necessarily an
  alternative and Saunders claims that there are
  some alternatives.
• J. girsh claims that it should be included in the
  ethical codes, and can be controlled (to avoid
  abuse), when Saunders claims that it can't be
  ethical.

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Evaluation

• Our opinion is that euthanasia should be
  legalized, like J. Girsh claims in his
  article.Euthanasia is very important for the
  autonomy of the patient, to have the option to
  die in a respectful way, with no unnecessary
  suffering.
• We prefer J. Girshs opinion, he brings 18 clear,
  detailed and convincing reason for his claims. On
  the other hand, Saunders is less convincing, his
  points are too much on a pragmatic level and not
  dealing enough with the moral issue, but the
  article is very easy too read, very coherenced
  and well organized.

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