What is meant by euthanasia?

It's clear from Mr O'Donohoes behaviour that he had changed and he'd became very depressed and suicidal; which put a huge amount of emotional pressure and stress on Mrs O'Donohue " For a substantial period of time" The Daily Telegraph 15 May 1991.

Mrs O'Donohue provided everything for him to give as comfortable and happy life as possible, eventually having to put him in a good home, although the home was a good one Mr O'Donohue was still suicidal and depressed "he would fix his eyes on me for a quarter of an hour without looking away" The Daily Telegraph 15 May 1991.

So eventually Mrs O'Donohue helped her husband to commit euthanasia by providing him firstly sleeping tablets, then leaving him in the car whilst a tube was passed through the window, enabling him to die by asphyxiation whilst asleep.

For this act of euthanasia Mrs O'Donohue,

"The Bristol Crown Courts imposed a 12 month conditional discharge"

The Daily telegraph 15 May 1991 it was conceded that she'd suffered enough from the emotional turmoil of ending her husband's life.

Euthanasia

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As for the argument against by Adrian Rogers he argued that euthanasia is a bad thing because it will encourage doctors to take life rather than preserve it; pointing out that they have to take an "Hippocratic Oath" The Independent 12 May 1990 to save life.

Adrian Rogers has a very strong view about doctors taking doctors lives, in that he believes that doctors should be prosecuted and struck of from the medical register.

By stating that with modern medicine and pain relief, patients can be cared for in hospices in a respectable and dignified manner.

"Euthanasia has been proposed for aids patients, cancer suffers and severely handicapped people" The independent 12 May 1990 not only that, where doe's it stop; it could then be used to remove people who are old and infirm who generally are of good mind and health.

As in the "Doctor Death" Dr Shipman case recently who killed older women for his own ends, who is to say he's the only doctor who has taken this course of action.

Adrian Rogers also points to the example of the Dutch experience whereby "Dutch specialists has described an effective practice by which he can force his more reluctant patient to request death" The Independent 12 May 1990. Or falsify death certificates " more and more elderly people are refusing to go into rest homes or hospitals" The Independent 12 May 1990 For fear of euthanasia being imposed on them whilst in these institutions.

Even with the best-laid laws in place these kinds of incidents would still constantly happen

In Holland as its well known that euthanasia has been practiced for many years, "of 120.000 annual deaths it's thought that 12.000 are through euthanasia" The independent 12 May 1990

The figures speak for themselves, in that euthanasia is being used against peoples will; this evidence is not a comforting thought is it.

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Euthanasia

The argument for Euthanasia has a three-fold benefit, one the patient themselves because they'll no longer have to suffer pain. Secondly the families, they'll no longer have to watch the patient's pain and suffering, where as if they are still in a hospice the agony would continue; even with modern pain killers; which means the whole family would have to endure the pain and suffering to the end.

Thirdly the authorities would simple save a large4 amount of funding, because they don't have to provide long term care in hospitals or hospices which as these institutions are struggling financially might be a gods end

The argument against euthanasia is two fold, in that it's open constantly to abuse both by the family who are liable to put pressure on doctors, not only for emotional reason but also for financial reasons.

Not only the doctors who are prepared to abuse the system, that's being experienced in Holland, as the figures suggest, but also from the experience from " Dr Death" Dr Shipman, and others who have not been caught

However it can argued argued that perhaps bothsides are right and that in time a balance can be achieved not only through the courts, but throughout society tolerance to euthanasia.