What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined as the practice of mercifully ending a person's life in order to release a certain person from an incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death. Active euthanasia is when a doctor, for example would painlessly end the life of a patient for merciful reasons, like giving them a lethal or poisonous injection of medication. Passive euthanasia is when you are not doing something to prevent the death of a patient, for example using a life support machine to keep a terminally ill patient alive. Currently in the UK there is no law directly dealing with euthanasia. Although it is illegal to actively end another person's life for example giving a patient a lethal injection, in reality some doctors may practice a form of 'passive euthanasia'. It is allowed that in some cases, if after everything possible has been done save a person, they might be allowed to die if the circumstances show that death is inevitable, this could for example turning off their life support machine. This still requires the consent of the patient or, if they are unable to communicate such a decision, their immediate family. 'EXIT' is one of the many euthanasia societies in the UK who whose aims are to try and change the laws about euthanasia. They what to ensure that: An adult that is suffering from a severe illness, in which there is no relief should by law be
What is Euthanasia?
Akinwale Adejumo Candidate Number: 1004 Euthanasia Coursework Paper 2 Christian Perspectives OCR 1930 Syllabus A (Ai) What is Euthanasia? The term traditionally has been used to refer to the hastening of a suffering person's death or "mercy killing" as some like to call it, it is also known as an "easy death". In simpler terms it is the putting to death, by painless method, of a terminally ill or severely debilitated person through the omission by withholding a life-saving medical procedure, also known as passive euthanasia or commission of an act other known as active euthanasia. There are 3 kinds of euthanasia, voluntary, suicide and compulsory. Compulsory euthanasia is when the doctors or the relatives decide to make the decision for the patient. The patient may be in a coma at this time, which is why they ask the relatives or doctors to choose. One of the most recent cases of compulsory euthanasia is Tony Bland (one of the Hillsborough Stadium victims) he had suffered a great amount of brain damage after being crushed, although he could survive without a life support machine his parents couldn't bear to see him in the permanent vegetative state and requested the medical staff to stop giving him food and water. Voluntary euthanasia this is done as a last resort by the person who is suffering from a disease that is incurable, or in a condition that has left
Explain what Christians teachings might be used in a discussion about euthanasia
Coursework 2 Euthanasia Part a) ii) Explain what Christian teachings might be used in a discussion about euthanasia. There are no specific teachings in the Bible about euthanasia. However, Christians use the Bible to help them understand whether euthanasia is right or wrong. An important teaching in the Bible is 'Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit' (1Corinthians 6:19). For this reason it would be wrong and against Christian teaching to commit suicide or to take the life of another person because it would not only be killing a part of you but killing a part of God. The 6th commandment helps Christians understand right from wrong when it comes to euthanasia. 'You shall not kill' (Exodus 20:30). Here the Bible makes it very clear to Christians that killing is wrong and that humans do not have the right to choose whether they, or others, die. 'For every thing there is a reason, and a time for every matter under heaven, a time to be born, a time to die' (Ecclesiastes: 1-4). This tells Christians that God knows what he is doing and humans should not interfere with their sacred life. Roman Catholics choose not to support euthanasia, as they believe that it is just the same as murder. The Pope said that to cause death in this way was 'A grave violation of the law of God'. Those whose lives are not fully healthy should be treated with special care. Especially the
Outline whether you think the law on Euthanasia should be changed in the UK
Outline whether you think the law on Euthanasia should be changed in the UK (6 marks) Euthanasia is illegal In the UK, as it is in other European countries apart from the Netherlands. There are many grey areas in the law which can cause confusion and controversy. Euthanasia is a very debatable subject and in the UK, the official policy is to oppose all forms of euthanasia. Personally, I agree with the law on euthanasia at the moment for a variety of reasons. From a non-Islamic point of view, I would say that we can not be sure of the patients' wishes. So, this means that if she didn't want to end her life, then it would be as if it was a "murder", as it would be against her desire. Also, having euthanasia in the UK would give the doctors too much power, and it may eventually lead to them getting used to ending patients' lives, instead of saving them. Furthermore, there may eventually be a cure for that particular illness, and so that patients' life could have been saved. Lastly, euthanasia may be requested by unscrupulous relatives of the patient in order to inherit. From a Muslim point of view, the Quran forbids suicide and declares that he is the only one who can take someone's life, and no-one must take their own life without his permission. And therefore Muslims are forbidden to commit any form of euthanasia as it goes against their belief in the sanctity of life. This
A balanced argument for euthansia?
Against Euthanasia Christianity teaches that all life comes from God: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28 You can not kill for you are destroying god's creation, you are killing apart of god, and you are killing god. It also teaches that life is sacred: Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Corinthians 6:19 God created man into his perfect image, we are the children of the Lord. Our lifes are holy and apart of God. Euthanasia is a sinful act against man but against our creator and father. For this reason it would be wrong and against Christian teaching to commit suicide or to take the life of another person. God gave man ten commandents stating rules that man should obey..The Sixth Commandment is: You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13 God asked, told man that no one shall commit murder, euthanasia is clearly the killing of someone. This
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here today to try and persuade you that euthanasia is right and should be made legal in the United Kingdom.
English Speech My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here today to try and persuade you that euthanasia is right and should be made legal in the United Kingdom. To start with let me explain what euthanasia is. Euthanasia is described as the act of killing someone painlessly especially to relieve suffering from an incurable disease. A Zogby poll asked: "If you had a disease that was fatal, and was causing great pain and discomfort, which of the following courses of action would you prefer: Physician assisted suicide, wait and let nature take its course, or not sure?" The poll showed that one-in-three Americans, stricken with a painful terminal illness, would prefer assisted suicide to letting nature take its course. In the March poll of 1,031 nationwide, 30.4% of those surveyed would rather have a doctor put a merciful end to their suffering than wait for a natural death. Respondents aged 18-29 and over 65 were less likely to consider assisted suicide than were those aged 30-64. Blacks were far less likely than whites to choose euthanasia over a protracted death by terminal disease. In Holland, Euthanasia has become legal. Doctor-assisted suicide has been tolerated in the Netherlands for decades and the politicians have simply legalised what has been established medical practice. But the doctors are much more advanced in what they are doing than the politicians. A recent
Explain the beliefs Christians hold about their responsibility of those at the beginning and end of their life Christians believe human life to be important because of the teaching of the "sanctity of life
Year 10 GCSE Coursework Task Explain the beliefs Christians hold about their responsibility of those at the beginning and end of their life Christians believe human life to be important because of the teaching of the "sanctity of life". Sanctity of life is the idea that life is precious and it should be worshiped. Christians believe that life is a gift from god and only god can take it away from someone. The sixth commandment states, " Thou shall not murder". Christians believe that if a person commits a murder that they are trying to take the role of god. In Genesis 1:26-27 its says that human life is special to god because he created man and it is not for us to take life away from either someone at the start of their life or nearing the of it. Christians have noticed the more defenceless and vulnerable that people are the less they are valued by society. The most vulnerable people in society are terminally ill patients and unborn children. This is because of the increasing amounts of abortions and cases of voluntary euthanasia. Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated and the baby is killed. This procedure is aloud to be preformed within 24 weeks of the child being conceived. In Corinthians 6:18-20 it says god is inside you so there for you should honour god with your body. It also says that having an abortion is a sin against your body. Euthanasia means "good
Should Voluntary Euthanasia be allowed in the U.K.?
Should Voluntary Euthanasia be allowed, by law, in the U.K? Assisted Suicide, also called Voluntary Euthanasia, is currently a contentious issue in many countries. The question in the debate is this: if a terminally ill person decides that they wish to end their life, is it acceptable for others to assist them? This would normally take the form of a doctor administering a lethal injection, which would end their life painlessly. A clear distinction must be made with involuntary euthanasia, by which someone is ‘put down’ against their wishes, and which is simply murder by another name. To this date, voluntary euthanasia is not allowed in the U.K. Most people, if determined to end their lives go to Dignitas. Dignitas is a Swiss euthanasia group that helps those with incurable physical and mental illnesses to die. The problem is families are scared that if they take their son or daughter to Dignitas, they might be arrested upon re-entering the country. The family of Dan James, a famous rugby player are being investigated after flying with to their son to Switzerland where he ended his life. Dan James had a promising rugby career ahead of him until he had an accident in a scrum where he dislocated his spine. Even after many operations, he was left unable to move his body other than his fingers’. As with every debate, there are pros and cons for both sides of the
Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about Euthanasia into action.
GCSE Coursework: Religious Studies OCR 1930A Paper 1 Luke's Gospel Euthanasia (b) Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about Euthanasia into action. The Christian church teaches us to definitely obligate to euthanasia. It is a process of killing someone basically, where in the bible it says, "Thou shall not kill". Regarding what the Christian perspective is to euthanasia, some Christians may put their beliefs about euthanasia into action by the following. In order to rid of euthanasia Christians may ask the law of Euthanasia to change. If this law is to be acknowledge by the MP and president of America then the law of banning euthanasia would flourish throughout the word. Therefore places such as Holland, and Switzerland who approve of euthanasia would follow in this trend, and finally see that it is a sin to kill. Secondly Christians could lobby parliament. This would be a good idea to stop euthanasia and would be a good visual aid towards the government. Once the parliament receives different Christian's views of euthanasia, they should then understand a certain degree of remorse for allowing euthanasia to take place in the first place. Having various letters from Christians to parliament would definitely help stop euthanasia, and could even allow parliament to see how they have gone wrong. Another way Christians may put their beliefs into action is by
Stop the Suffering - Euthanasia.
Stop the Suffering No one wants to live in agony, fearing each day, hoping it to be your last. If this is so, why does the law state that if this situation arises, we must carry on, even if there is no hope for us? Does the government have the right to make people suffer? Euthanasia has become a very heated debate. In today's society, there are many disagreements regarding the moral issues of euthanasia. Although death is unavoidable for human beings, suffering before death should be. I believe that not legalising euthanasia would be an outrage, and would result in human beings like you and I having to undergo unbelievable pain before death. As a doctor I see so many patients unnecessarily suffering before death, and pleading with me to make the pain go. Generally though, they are to far gone for any medication to improve their condition. For a doctor, one of the worst questions that a patient could ask you is to end their life. To see the look on a terminally ill patient's face, when they realise the long road of agony ahead of them is heartbreaking. How would you feel in that situation? How would you tell the patient that their condition is going to slowly deteriorate over a matter of months, and there is no medication to help them? It is unbearable not only for the terminally ill patients, but also for the friends and family of the patient. Would you stand and watch