Bioethics I: EuthanasiaBioethics I: Euthanasia

Presented by Rebecca AustenPresented by Rebecca Austen

Director of AdvocacyDirector of Advocacy

World Youth AllianceWorld Youth Alliance

What is Euthanasia?What is Euthanasia?

DefinitionDefinition ““also called mercy killing; the deliberate also called mercy killing; the deliberate

causing of the death of a person who is causing of the death of a person who is suffering from an incurable disease or suffering from an incurable disease or condition. It may be active, such as by condition. It may be active, such as by administration of a lethal drug, or passive, administration of a lethal drug, or passive, such as by withholding of treatment. Legal such as by withholding of treatment. Legal authorities, church leaders, philosophers, authorities, church leaders, philosophers, and commentators on ethics and morality and commentators on ethics and morality usually distinguish passive euthanasia usually distinguish passive euthanasia from active euthanasia.” (Mosby’s Medical from active euthanasia.” (Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th Edition, 2009)Dictionary, 8th Edition, 2009)

History of MedicineHistory of Medicine

Medicine today is largely built Medicine today is largely built upon the Hippocrates tradition upon the Hippocrates tradition (the physician’s commitment (the physician’s commitment to his patient).to his patient).

Doctor knows best – his system Doctor knows best – his system of values must be accepted by of values must be accepted by the patientthe patient

The Hippocratic OathThe Hippocratic Oath

““I will use treatment to help the I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and sick according to my ability and judgment, but I will never use it to judgment, but I will never use it to injure or wrong them.”injure or wrong them.”

““I will not give poison to anyone I will not give poison to anyone though asked to do so, nor will I though asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a plan.”suggest such a plan.”

““Similarly I will not give a pessary Similarly I will not give a pessary to a woman to cause abortion.”to a woman to cause abortion.”

History of Assisted SuicideHistory of Assisted Suicide

The Anglo-American legal tradition has The Anglo-American legal tradition has expressly punished or disapproved of suicide expressly punished or disapproved of suicide and assisted suicide for 700 years (and assisted suicide for 700 years (Washington Washington v. Glucksburgv. Glucksburg, 521 U.S. 702, 711 (1997))., 521 U.S. 702, 711 (1997)).

Oregon and Washington now authorize Oregon and Washington now authorize physician-assisted suicidephysician-assisted suicide California requires physicians to give information to California requires physicians to give information to

patients on how to end their lives.patients on how to end their lives. Montana’s ban on assisted suicide is in the courts Montana’s ban on assisted suicide is in the courts

currentlycurrently Legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Legal in the Netherlands, Belgium,

Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, AlbaniaAlbania

The “Right to Die”: The “Right to Die”: Physician-Assisted SuicidePhysician-Assisted Suicide

Does the “right to die” lead to the Does the “right to die” lead to the “duty to die”“duty to die”

Example of the Netherlands, BelgiumExample of the Netherlands, Belgium Hippocratic medical traditionHippocratic medical tradition

Do no harm principleDo no harm principle When medicine ceases to be Hippocratic, it When medicine ceases to be Hippocratic, it

loses something essentialloses something essential Medicine is more than clinical expertiseMedicine is more than clinical expertise

Relief of sufferingRelief of suffering

Nutrition/HydrationNutrition/Hydration Problem of nutrition/hydration Problem of nutrition/hydration

(Schiavo)(Schiavo) Difference between ordinary and Difference between ordinary and

extraordinary careextraordinary care Providing food is ordinary careProviding food is ordinary care Forcing the body to breathe and accept Forcing the body to breathe and accept

oxygen for a sustained period of time is oxygen for a sustained period of time is extraordinary careextraordinary care

Analogy of feeding an infantAnalogy of feeding an infant Causing someone to die vs. letting Causing someone to die vs. letting

someone die of the underlying diseasesomeone die of the underlying disease

WYA’s ApproachWYA’s Approach Human dignity is intrinsic to the Human dignity is intrinsic to the

person, and therefore value exists person, and therefore value exists outside of any individual outside of any individual condition. Suicide is a violation of condition. Suicide is a violation of this dignity, even though it is this dignity, even though it is consensual death.consensual death.

WYA’s Approach cont’dWYA’s Approach cont’d

Euthanasia evidences a cultural Euthanasia evidences a cultural attitude that does not value the human attitude that does not value the human person and wishes to sacrifice the person and wishes to sacrifice the good of persons for an economic or good of persons for an economic or social end. social end.

Human beings are Human beings are viewed as burdens viewed as burdens on society.on society.

WYA’s Approach cont’dWYA’s Approach cont’d

Euthanasia is an antithesis to solidarity Euthanasia is an antithesis to solidarity among persons.among persons.

Can we really gage the value of one life Can we really gage the value of one life based on quality of suffering? Can we based on quality of suffering? Can we judge the suffering of another person? judge the suffering of another person? Blind person exampleBlind person example People see the value of their own life as People see the value of their own life as

incalculableincalculable

WYA’s Approach cont’dWYA’s Approach cont’d

Intergenerational solidarity – catch Intergenerational solidarity – catch phrase of the EUphrase of the EU

Fostering relationships between Fostering relationships between generations to promote the dignity of the generations to promote the dignity of the human personhuman person

Terminally-ill patients need proper Terminally-ill patients need proper palliative carepalliative care

Luxembourg case – Grand DukeLuxembourg case – Grand Duke WYA’s intervention in support of the Grand WYA’s intervention in support of the Grand

Duke’s veto of euthanasia legislationDuke’s veto of euthanasia legislation

Interactive (Role Play)Interactive (Role Play)

Family with an older relative who is Family with an older relative who is suffering and dying. The doctor will try suffering and dying. The doctor will try to convince the family to euthanize or to convince the family to euthanize or allow him/her to assist in suicide. allow him/her to assist in suicide. Some relatives are for and some are Some relatives are for and some are against. Have different actors and against. Have different actors and actresses play various roles or jump in actresses play various roles or jump in with different arguments.with different arguments.