Euthanaisa

Euthanasia is the Greek words for Good Death. Euthanasia is illegal in the UK, however, some countries like Switerzland, Netherlands and some states in the US permit certain forms of euthanasia (assisted dying and assisted suicide).

There are many forms of Euthanasia:

• Active Euthanasia-A deliberate action performed by a third party to a kill a person (ie lethal injection)
• Passive Euthanasia-The withholding treatment necessary for the continuance of life (Medical professionals call this a non-treatment decision)
• Voluntary Euthanasia-When a patient's life is ended at their own request
• Non-voluntary Euthanasia-When a patient's life is ended without the consent of the patient (but that may be due to the patient being brain-dead or in a persistent vegetative state)
• Involuntary Euthanasia-Where a person is killed against their wishes (which is usually murder)

Sanctity of life (SOL) vs Quality of Life (QOL)

The SOL is a religious idea that all life is sacred and has intrinsic worth thus shouldn't be ended by human action since it was given by God. The QOL is a non-religious idea that if a life is unfulfilled and unhappy then is it a life worth living

Case Study - Diane Pretty (QOL)

Diane Pretty desperately wanted a doctor or her husband to help her die. Motor neurone disease left her mind sharp but gradually destroyed her muscles, making it hard for her to communicate with her family. It left her in a wheelchair; catheterised and fed through a tube. Diane fought against the disease for the last two years of her life and has every possible medical treatment. Rather than living with the fear of dying by choking or suffocation, she wanted her husband to help her die, although this would be classed as assisted suicide and is illegal in the UK.Pretty took her case to the court, using the Human Rights Act to argue that the Director of Public Prosecutions should make a commitment not to prosecute anybody involved in helping her die. British Courts did not accept Pretty's arguments, eventually turning her case down. 

Case Study - Anthony Bland

Anthony Bland was a 17- year old victim of…