Euthanasia on the verge of becoming legal in Lithuania?

Milda Gegužytė

Eglė Mazėtytė

EUTHANASIA

Euthanasia - refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering.

From the Greek: Eu – well or good; thanatos - death

Classification:I) Voluntary; II) Unvoluntary; Involuntary (?) Active; Passive.

Euthanasia in Lithuania

Passive (legalized in Patients' rights and health damage compensation Act) patient’s right to refuse treatment

or some medicine procedureso Active. Not legalized in Lithuania

Project of Euthanasia Act2012-03-02

Limitation of medicine

Act project is more conservative than in Belgium

“Everybody has a right to express their opinion - even a Parliament member “

Who would be entitled to use a right to Euthanasia?

Person who feels unbearable physical and (or) psychical suffering from incurable sickness

Reached 18 years old, capable, mentally abled, able intelligently evaluate his/her interests

This person plead the petition with free will and taking into account all given information about further incurable sickness

Euthanasia Control and The Committee

Euthanasia Committee

Ad hoc Aim verify if Euthanasia was in

comformity with Euthanasia Act and others Acts regulated its proceeding

Finding infrindgement Euthanasia case is transferable to public prosecutor

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF EUTHANASIA

Respect for the autonomy and quality of life issue:

the only thing a person can absolutely control of his life.

??? The personal life of the control concept can be expanded to control death.

??? Criteria of quality of life: a life that one may seem bearable and worth it to live, the other seemsunbearable.

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF EUTHANASIA

Mercy, beneficence and utilitarianism

many people die enduring pain and fear

when no other means for pain relief, euthanasia is the only good (benevolent) decision.

Utilitarian point of view: every action - even if it ends in death - is positive if its consequences is positive goal - a peaceful death.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA

No legal way of properly regulating euthaniasia

Euthanasia opponents don't believe that it is possible to create a regulatory system for euthanasia that will prevent the abuse of euthanasia.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA

The slippery slope

Many people worry that if voluntary euthanasia were to become legal, it would not be long before involuntary euthanasia would start to happen.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA

Value of life/against will of God:

All human beings are to be valued, irrespective of age, sex, race, religion, social status or their potential for achievement;

Human life is a basic good as opposed to an instrumental good, a good in itself rather than as a means to an end;

Human life is sacred because it's a gift from God;

Therefore the deliberate taking of human life should be prohibited except in self-defence or the legitimate defence of others.

STATISTICS

Against

Pro

Have no opinion

Pro euthanasia: 47 %

Against euthanasia: 37 %

Have no opinion: 16 %