The Roman Church teaches that a method of ‘double effect’ is correct. This principle teaches that euthanasia is only allowed if it happens as a side effect of helpful treatment. For example, doses of morphine can be given to a patient to ease suffering even though they will shorted the life of the patient. The Roman Catholic Church sees this method as acceptable because the doses of morphine are to ease pain and not kill the patient.
Other Christians believe that a dignified death can be achieved when the patient is sent to a hospice as an alternative. These hospices do not practice euthanasia, but they make like as comfortable as they can and prepare the patient for death in their last dying years. The Voluntary Euthanasia Society formed by doctors in 1935 believes in voluntary euthanasia if the patient decides and signs 30 days before their departure. This is significant because A. Clough believes this:
’Thou shalt not kill, but should not strive officiously to keep alive’
This statement suggests that euthanasia is wrong but keeping someone alive against his or her will is also wrong.
2) Explain why people may disagree with the request of a patient dying of cancer for euthanasia.
There are many views on euthanasia and with these varying views, there comes disagreement. There are four main views. There is absolute pro-life who believe that euthanasia is always wrong on moral or religious grounds or both. ‘Religious’ pro-life teach that Euthanasia is never good and can be an escape from important religious experience. Another view is the view from the moderate pro-choice view, this is that euthanasia is undesirable, but on rare occasions it may be justified. The last main view is the absolute pro-choice view and this is that moral principle of choice says that euthanasia should be the free decision of the patient. The only group that says that euthanasia is unacceptable under all circumstances is the Absolute Pro-Choice group. The Religious pro-life only accept it if there is no cure, the moderate pro-choice view shows that euthanasia is acceptable when the patient has clearly requested it, where pain or suffering cannot be relieved or when there is no cure. Absolute Pro-Choice hold the view that euthanasia is only acceptable when the patient has clearly requested it. Therefore, even if a patient requests it, the absolute pro-life and religious pro-choice view would prefer a patient to be referred to a hospice. The other two groups, cannot carry out their views in the UK as euthanasia is illegal and a person will be prosecuted if they help a patient die. A famous case in UK history would be the case of Diane Pretty. Diane Pretty who was 43 when she died had motor neurone disease and asked her husband to help her die. The couple, backed by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and the civil rights group Liberty, had taken their campaign all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, after being defeated in a series of UK courts. Mr Pretty risked prosecution if he defied the courts and helped his wife die. Diane Pretty died in May 2002. In Holland, euthanasia is illegal, but if they go through the courts, like Mr Pretty tried, a doctor will not be prosecuted for carrying it out. Dr. Pieter V. Admiraal once said:
I say to my patient, "I wish you a very good journey to an unknown you've never seen."
This is significant because this is from a Dutch doctor. This statement sounds good because a patient has been relieved of their suffering and they depart to whatever is after death. Another quote that I believe is relevant is between Jesus and Luke:
“To love your neighbour as yourself”
This is significant because it can lead to agreeing to a patient’s request for death.
3) “Euthanasia is not murder it is a kind way of letting ill people die”, do you agree?
I believe that euthanasia in not murder, because I think that a killing is not a murder if the victim agrees to the act. Although this scenario seems unlikely, when talking in terms of euthanasia, this is very important. I also hold the same view as the Voluntary Euthanasia Society that every person has the right to die without pain and with dignity. I also believe the view that euthanansia is kind because if a patient was in such a state that they could not say they wanted to commit euthanasia someone needs to help them and take their needs into account and act for them.
Others may disagree with me because a patient may not be in a fit state to make a thoughtful decision and would therefore say what they have not thought about carefully. This way it is murder as it is not what the patient really wants. Others also hold the view that with the development of medicine, a cure could be found tomorrow and it would be kinder to let a patient hang on so that when a cure is found they live a happy life whereas they could be dead.
However, I still believe that I am right because when a patient has a terminal disease, they have a terrible and agonising time ahead and it is only kind to put them out of their misery instead of dye a slow and painful death.