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What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia means ‘easy death’. Euthanasia is helping someone to die to ease their suffering, especially if the person is suffering from a painful, debilitating and incurable illness.

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Voluntary (Active) Euthanasia is when the person themselves decides they want to die. It could be an old person in a lot of pain, or someone with a terminal illness.

• They may ask a doctor or a friend to give them enough drugs to make them die painlessly.

• At the moment this is illegal. Anyone helping someone to die like this could be charged with murder.

Involuntary (Passive) Euthanasia is when someone else decides it would be for the best if the person could die. This might happen when someone has been in a coma for a long time and may have serious brain problems if they ever wake up. Or maybe if a child is born with severe disabilities and is in great pain; the parent might think it is better to let their child die in peace.

• This might mean turning someone's life support machine off or stopping feeding them.

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Arguments for and against voluntary (active) euthanasia

The Case for Voluntary Euthanasia• it brings an end to suffering• it makes it easier for the patient's loved ones who have to

grieve• technology has advanced so much that there are people kept

alive now who would have died anyway in the past

The Case Against Voluntary Euthanasia• pain-killers can take away most of the pain anyway• people may not to be able to think straight when they are in

pain• some people do get better even when doctors say they won't• old people might feel forced into it to stop being a burden• life is a gift from God that only God can take away• if we looked after the dying better, there would be less need for

it

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Euthanasia in Britain

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The Sick and ElderlyThe Sick and Elderly

List some reasons why the elderly need to be cared for e.g. failing health

• Poverty• Loneliness• Old people are living for longer, a large

percentage of population are oldShould care be provided by the

family or government?

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HospicesSome people believe that euthanasia is wrong and would prefer that the terminally ill be supported medically, emotionally and spiritually, and allowed to die with dignity.Dame Cicely Saunders started the modern hospice movement. She believes that we now have the medical technology to give good pain relief so that euthanasia is no longer necessary.

Helen House Hospice, Oxford

Began in the early 20th Began in the early 20th Century. They aim to care for Century. They aim to care for the dying. They help the the dying. They help the patient, friends and family patient, friends and family face up to death and offer face up to death and offer short and long term help.short and long term help.

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Hospices are usually run by charities and have enough staff to give much more personal treatment than in a hospital. The hospice also supports the family of the patient. Although many of the charities that run hospices have been set up by religions you do not have to be a member of that religion to go there, and they will not try to force their faith on you.

A hospice is a place that patients can go to spend their last few days or months in an atmosphere that helps them to come to terms with their death so that they can die peacefully.

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Suicide

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The Samaritans – What do they do?The Samaritans – What do they do?

Common reasons to call Samaritans are:• Relationship and family problems • Loss, including loss of a job, a friend or a family member through bereavement • Financial worries • Job-related stress or overwork • College or study related stress • Body image issues

What they offer:

• Available 24 hours (Phone, letter, email, face-to-face)

• Confidentiality

• Emotional Support

• Non-judgemental

• Someone to talk to

• People are still left to make their own decisions

Write down 5 facts about the work of the Samaritans

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How can these teachings be used to explain how you should behave towards the elderly and the

dying.

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“God giveth and taketh away” Heaven, Hell and Purgatory.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” – God has a plan for everyone.

Passive euthanasia is generally accepted on the grounds of compassion and love. “Love your neighbour”

“Honour your father and mother”

The sixth commandment says, “do not commit murder”.

Human life is a gift from God. Life is sacred.

“Your body is a temple of the holy spirit”

God will judge humans actions on Judgement Day.

Christian Teachings which can be used for Matters of death

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Samsara – the cycle of birth, death and rebirth

“Do not harm others” 1st Precept.

Passive euthanasia is generally accepted on the grounds of compassion and love - Metta

Helping to ease Dukkha (suffering) can be seen as an act of Metta (loving-kindness).

Karmic consequences affect rebirth and ones ability to reach Nirvana.

Right Action (Eightfold Path)

The main factor to whether its right or wrong is its intension (Right Intention – Eightfold Path)

Buddhist Teachings which can be used for Matters of death

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• See sheets for more key terms and arguments