By Michelle Goldsborough

EUTHANASIA

UNDERSTANDING EUTHANASIA

What is it?

Different types

Voluntary

Non-voluntary

Involuntary

DR. JACK KEVORKIAN

Right-to-die activist

Built the “Thanatron”

Admitted to “assisting” at least 130 patients

THE “THANATRON”

THOMAS YOUK CASE

Tried several times for assisted suicide

52-year old man suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease

Contacted Kevorkian requesting his “services”

Challenged the government by submitting videotape to 60 Minutes

Found guilty of second-degree murder

Thomas Youk

Kevorkian’s Mugshot

LEGALIZING EUTHANASIA

The right to

die or the right

to live?

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF EUTHANASIA

No one should be forced to live in pain and suffering.

Everyone has the right to their own bodies.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA

Patients may feel pressured into choosing this option to relieve their families.

Oregon implemented the Death with Dignity Act (1997)

DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT

Legalized physician-assisted suicide

About one-third of patients chose euthanasia to relieve their families

Unbearable pain a reason for a small number of cases

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA

The focus should be on the duties we have to care for the ill and dependent.

There will be no definite way to keep it under control.

More cases of involuntary euthanasia and for illegitimate reasons

Already out of control in places where it is legalized

REPORTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS

Dutch doctors only report half of all euthanasia cases.

Three surveys determined at least 1,000 patients killed through involuntary euthanasia every year.