"They say that our bodies are our own, and we should be allowed to do what we want with them. So it's wrong to make anyone live longer than they want. In fact making people go on living when they don't want to violates their personal freedom and human rights.It's immoral, they say, to force people to continue living in suffering and pain.
Therefore; if suicide is not a crime, euthanasia should not be a crime."
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What is euthanasia?
Euthanasia (also kown by some as mercy killing) basically means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffereing.
There are three differect types of euthanasia;
1. Voluntary:- This is where the patient gives 100% consent for their death. They get a full say in the matter.
2. Non-Voluntary:- This is where the patient cannot have an input; for example, if brain dead or in a vegetated state; th next of kin will make th decision based on the patients best interest.
3. Involuntary:- This is the type which is otherwise known as murder. This is where the patient has no thought in dying, the act goes against their will, for exampl child euthanasia.
There are two procedural types of euthanasia;
1. Passive:- This is where the life sustaining treatment is withheld; for example, people who have DNR cards (this means do not resuscitate).
2. Active:- This is where lethal substances are used to end the patients life.
Information from : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182951.php
What are the methods?
There are four main methods used for euthanasia;
1. Drugs:- The main method used in Switzerland, this is when an oral dose of an aniemic drug is given, follwed approximately 30 seconds after by a lethal ovrdose of powdered pentobarbital dissolved in either water or fruit juice. This overdose depresss the cental nervous system causing respitory arrest.
2. Injcetions:- The main method in the Netherlands, there are two injections, one which send the patient into a coma, then the second is given to stop the heart beating. Sometimes an intavnous potassium chloride is given to hasten cardiac arrest.
3. Starvation and dehydration:- Terminal sedation is mixed with the complete withdrawl of all foods and fluids.
4. Gases, plastic bags and "peaceful pill":- These ar the most used methods in Australia and Nw Zealand. Helium is taken to cause a death by lung failure. The peaceful pill is a barbiturate-based pill.
"If we can get people to except the removal of all treatment especially the removal of food and fluids, they will see what a painful way to die is, and then in the patients best interst, accept the lethal injection" - Dr Helga Kuhse
Information from : http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/abouteuthanasia/methods-of-euthanasia
Why is it illegal in the UK?
Euthanasia is currently illegal in Britain. To kill another person deliberately is murder or manslaughter, even if they have asked you to do so. Anyone doing so could fac 14 years in prison. Under the 1961 Suicide Act, it is also a criminal offence to assist, aid or counsel sombody in relation to taking their own life. Nevertheless, the authorities may decid not to prosecute in cases of euthanasia after taking into account the circumstances of death.
The Times (2007) reported by a survey that 80% of the public said they wanted the law changd to giv terminally ill patients the right to die with doctors help. I feel that if people deserve the right to live, they should deserve the right to die.
information from : http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/overview/problems.shtml
Who would be inetersted in euthanaisa?
The word "euthanasia" litterally means "good death" but now in modern usuag it has come to mean intentional killing.
Terminally ill and incurably disabled people are those most at risk of having their lives deemed "not worth living" whether or not they have asked to be killed. Thes are the people viewed by the pro-ethanasia lobby as being the benficiaries of any law to allow euthanasia. People of vegetated states or are brain dead, as wll as the terminally ill are all people who ar most likely to ask for assisted suicide. However, 20% of the people asking for assistd suice are not ill at all, more just "tired of living"
Information from : http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/512/689
Euthanasia has ben going on for a long time. However the contemory debate on euthanasia started in 1870. Euthanasia was practisd in Ancit Greek as well as strongly opposed in the Judeo-Christian Tradition back in 1565. Religion has always been a factor for this. In th early 1800's Euthanasia techniques such as the morphine overdose was claimed as wrong and therefore starting the debate.
"That in all cases of hopeless and painful illness, it should be the recognised duty of the medical attendant, whenever so desired by th patient, to administer chloroform or such other anaesthetic to destroy the consciousness at once and put the sufferer to a quick and painless death" - Samuel Williams 1872
Information from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia#History
The pages below are more research I have done on Euthanasia;
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