Respect for Life: Euthanasia
Kirsty Kee
Euthanasia is the process of causing intentional death to relieve the suffering of a person who may be terminally ill or in immense pain. In the UK it is illegal. There are two types of euthanasia: passive, which is withdrawing a life support machine, or active, which is a direct action taken to end a life.
Explain why the organisation known as EXIT (The Voluntary Euthanasia Society) seeks to change the law on accepting euthanasia.
EXIT wants to alter the British laws on euthanasia, so that a patient is able to choose their final wish. They do not support involuntary euthanasia and hope that voluntary euthanasia will not lead to involuntary. EXIT believes that it is immoral and a disregard of human rights to deny a person control over their life, and patients should have some control over when and under what circumstances they die. Some patients may value the quality of life above quantity, and EXIT views this as important as well. They aim to make euthanasia impossible to be open for abuse by medical staff and relatives by ensuring that a second medical opinion and a psychiatric assessment are obtained. The use of Living Wills and Advanced Directives, which are currently illegal, are supported by EXIT as they give a patient the opportunity to opt for a mercy death before they become ill. Hospices have been established to care for patients who are extremely ill and to try to ensure a dignified and comfortable death. EXIT does not agree with hospices as they prolong the health decline until the patient dies and cannot always guarantee dignity, total respect and a painless death. Therefore, EXIT believes dying people should be allowed their final wish and a change in the law is completely necessary.
