By: Andrew Kenneth Uyesugi, Mikayla DeBarros, Eryk
Lewandowski , Emilie Baxter What is Euthanasia? The painless killing of humans who suffer from severe illness. Methods of Euthanasia: - Drugs - Injections - Pills - Gases
Euthanasia vs. Assisted Suicide Euthanasia: intentionally ending a life to alleviate pain and suffering. The physician himself kills the patient with an injection or other method. Assisted Suicide: suicide with the aid of another person. The person is the one killing himself. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS): doctor intentionally gives knowledge to a person to commit suicide (ex. overdose or supply drugs) Is it Legal?
Euthanasia: Assisted Suicide: In the United States illegal in all states in the U.S. legal in Oregon (The Dignity Act), Montana, New Mexico, and Vermont In Foreign Countries legal in Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg legal in Switzerland, Germany, Albania, Colombia, and Japan Importance It allows people to be free of pain, as well as mental sadness. For example Dax Cowart, who was almost burned to death in a propane explosion. His hands, eyes, ears, and lips were burned off, he spent years in physical pain, wishing to die. Who It Affects? Thousands of people just in the U.S. are diagnosed with terminal illnesses. 552,000 Americans die of cancer each year (1,500 people a day) 1 out of 4 deaths in the U.S. are caused from cancer Controversy Make It Legal humane - ends pain human right less health care costs Stay Illegal Encyclopedia of American Law states mercy killing is a class of criminal homicide Some Christians believe interferes with Gods plan
Negative Viewpoints If euthanasia is legalized: Euthanasia will become non-voluntary. More people will commit suicide without having a terminal illness. No life is being saved, only taken. Positive Viewpoints If euthanasia is legalized: Those who dont want euthanization wont be affected. People can avoid excruciating pain and slow death. Its cost efficient because you will no longer have to pay medical bills.
Andrew, Mikayla, and Emilies Viewpoint We believe euthanasia should be legal. People want to remember themselves as they were not when they were suffering. Instead of leaving on a bad note, they can leave on a relatively happy note. For some people, it will be an honorable right to die on their own terms. Also, the family wont have to see their loved one suffer. Eryks Viewpoint Im not against or for it, reason being it will most likely not affect me within the near future but here is what I think about it: -It allows people to be free of suffering. -It is assisted suicide. -Prevents from possible full recovery Statistics Real Life Stories 29 year old Brittany Maynard chooses to die with own consent after diagnosed with terminal brain cancer
Real Life Stories Kathryn Judson from Oregon was appalled when her husbands doctor advocated for assisted suicide without consulting her. Real Life Stories John Elliott chooses to die with his dignity rather than suffer from multiple myeloma. Dax Cowart Debate 25 year old Air Force pilot in 1973 Burned 75% of body and killed father when two propane tanks exploded in car Now 48 year old successful attorney but still wishes doctors let him die instead of putting him through the immense amount of pain Blind and has no function of his hands Summary Sources http://euthanasia.procon.org/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/infavour/infavour_1.shtml http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/abouteuthanasia/methods-of-euthanasia/ http://www.euthanasia.com/argumentsagainsteuthanasia.html http://psychcentral.com/lib/treating-pain-associated-with-terminal-illness/000497 http://www.debate.org/euthanasia/ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-04-26/features/1998116064_1_cowart-masks-young-man http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/medical_ethics_text/Chapter_6_Patient_Rights /Readings_Cowart_Burt.htm http://www.worldrtd.net/qanda/what-difference-between-assisted-dying-and-euthanasia