• Unit 10 Euthanasia

• By Quan Lihong & Peng Zhenzhu

• Nov. , 12, 2008

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives• Section One Break the Taboo • Probe into controversial points of view

regarding the right to die• Section Two The Right to Die• Investigate cultural and traditional view of

euthanasia• Section Three Living Will• Learn the words and expressions related with

the topic

Lead-in

• “Let life be beautiful like summer flowers and death like autumn leaves.” People live with passion and die with peace. Should terminally ill patients who are kept alive by machines have the right to die? How opinions vary in terms of euthanasia?

Warm-up Group Discussion

1. A Chinese proverb says: “ A wrenched existence is better than a good death”. Do you agree with it? Why or why not?

2. Is death always a sad thing? In what cases can death be a happy thing? (consider the Chinese idiom “Hong bai xi shi”)

3. List as many euphemisms( 委婉语 ) of death as possible.

Euphemisms of DeathEuphemisms of Death

• Pass away• End up• Kick the bucket • Go to heaven• Go to one’s eternal reward• Meet one’s maker• Give up the ghost• Find everlasting peace• In the dust• In the flue• Bite the dust• Hop the stick • Snuff out

Background information: Background information: Euthanasia and Dr. DeathEuthanasia and Dr. Death

• The word “euthanasia comes from the Greek root that may be translated “good death”. It is the practice of mercifully terminating life when a person is hopelessly ill or injured in order to hasten the relief of death.

• Dr. Death is a physician responsible for creating a machine which allowed the patient to self-induce drugs that would end their life if they were terminally ill. He has been in and out of jail and on starvation diets rather than give up the practice of assisting suicides.

Task 1 Listening in (Monologues)• Monologue 1 Forms of Euthanasia• Directions: Listen to the monologue

and answer the questions on P.150.

• Monologue 2 Funeral Customs• Directions: Listen to the monologue

and fill the blanks on P. 151.

• Task 2 Speaking out• role-play• Situation 1: Vivien is dying of cancer. She is suffering

unbearable pain and feels exhausted from undergoing endless medical treatment. She wants to be euthanized (suppose it is illegal). You are her best friend and you don’t want to lose her. You try to encourage her to fight the illness and find hope in her life.

• Role A: Vivien• Role B: Vivien’s best friend

• Group Discussion• Death is often called “the last taboo”. For most of us,

the thought of our own death or the death of someone we love is too painful to think about, talk about, or plan for. According to a research, 66% people have never discussed death with their loved ones. There are good reasons to break the taboo by not only thinking about our death, but also discussing it with those closest to us, because there are many important decisions we can make in advance.

• Work in groups and talk about some important decisions you would like to make about your death. Then make a report about your group members’ decisions. You may include:

• How would you like to spend your last few days?• Where would you like to die, at home or in hospital or

somewhere else?• Who would you like to be there with you?• What would you like to say to your spouse and

children?• How would you like a funeral to be arranged?• Other details……

Section Two The Right to DieSection Two The Right to Die

• Task 1 Listening in(News Report 1-The Right to Die)

• Listen to the news and do the exercise on P. 154.

Words and ExpressionsFeeding tube: either a nasogastric or gastric feeding tube, which is us

ed for long-term feeding or to supplement the nutritional needs of the patient 鼻饲管

Vigil ： a watch kept during normal sleeping hours 守夜Wrenching: painful, distressful 痛苦的Vegetative state: a condition in which the person utters no words and

does not follow commands or make any response that is psychologically meaningful 植物人状态

Catastrophic: adj. involving or resulting in substantial, often ruinous medical expense 灾难性的

Devout: displaying reverence or piety 虔诚的

Post-listening questionsPost-listening questions

• Listen to the news and discuss the following two questions.

• 1. If you were Terri’s family members, what would you do?

• 2. If you were Terri and you knew beforehand that you would be in vegetative state, what would you like your family do?

• Debate • Directions: Work in two groups and debate

on the proposition “Euthanasia should be legalized in China?”

• The pro side: Euthanasia should be legalized in China

• The con side: Euthanasia should not be legalized in China

Activity 2.5 Debate: Should euthanasia be legalized?Activity 2.5 Debate: Should euthanasia be legalized?

Preparation 1: Study the following two cases and try to figure out whether they can be used to argue for euthanasia or against euthanasia.

Case 1: An elderly person in a nursing home, who can barely understand a breakfast menu, is asked to sign a form consenting to be killed. Is this voluntary or involuntary? Will they be protected by the law? How? Right now the overall prohibition on killing stands in the way.

Case 2: A terminally ill patient has been kept alive by machine for many years. There is no hope of recovery. Both the patient and the family members are tired of being in that way. Meanwhile, the medical expense is very expensive.

Preparation 2: Work in groups and try to list Preparation 2: Work in groups and try to list reasons for euthanasia and arguments against reasons for euthanasia and arguments against euthanasia.euthanasia.

• Reasons for euthanasia• Unbearable pain• …• …• …• …

• Arguments against euthanasia

• Euthanasia will become non-voluntary

• …• …• …

• Compare your reasons and arguments with the following statements (p125) and try to figure out which of them are for euthanasia, which are against euthanasia.

• 1.People should not be forced to live. To live is a right, not a duty.• 2. Death is sometimes a hard process that needs assistance.• 3.Terminall ill patients would rather die with dignity than live in agony.• 4.Euthanasia is a criminal offense because it involves the killing of a person.• 5. Hospitals are very expensive, medical resources should not be wasted.

• 6. Pain is controllable and a possible medical

breakthrough could bring recovery possible.• 7. Patients may be misdiagnosed and miracles

sometimes do happen.• 8.Euthanasia may be used on the handicapped,

incompetent, old, or anyone else considered to be a

burden to society.• 9. Suffering and pain are purposeless, demoralizing,

and degrading.• 10. Suicide is a tragic, individual act; it is not

criminalized.

Section Three Living WillSection Three Living Will

• Task 1 Listening in (News Report 2—Living Will Inspired by Terri’s Case)

• Listen to the news and do the exercise on P. 156-157

Word TipsWord Tips• Overwhelm: vi. to defeat or make powerless by much gr

eater force of numbers 　打败，压倒，制服• Scenario: n. a description of a possible course of action

or events （行动的）方案， 纲要； ( 对可能出现情况的 )描述、推测

• Backfire: vi. to have an unexpected effect that is opposite to the effect intended 发生意外；产生事与愿违的后果

• Stipulate: vt. to state as a necessary condition, esp. of an agreement or offer ( 尤指在协议或建议中 ) 规定，约定，讲明

• Proxy: n. a person whom one chooses to act for or represent one 代理人，代表

• imperative: n. something that must be done 必要做的事情，必要的事

• Task 2 Speaking out • A. Making your own living will• Directions: Dying without leaving a will may cause

problems for the surviving relatives. Your beloved ones may be left with hard decisions to make. So it is necessary to make a living will in advance.

• Your statement might include:• a. treatment you would be happy to have, and under

what circumstances • b. treatment you would want, no matter how ill you

are • c. treatment you would prefer not to have, and

under what circumstances • d. a proxy you would like to be consulted about your

treatment at the time a decision needs to be made

B. SurveyB. Survey

• People’s opinions are varied in terms of a living will. Conduct a survey of your classmates to find out whether they would like to sign a living will or not.

• Prepare an oral report of your survey. In your report:• 1. summarize the results of your survey• 2. explain what you find interesting, revealing or surp

rising about the results Language you can use: One of the people I talked to holds/maintains/argues…The majority/minority of the interviewees thinks that…Two out of three people dislike…Some strongly/firmly believes that…

Ⅲ Ⅲ Speaking Skills—Making Small Speaking Skills—Making Small Talk (I)Talk (I)

Ⅳ Ⅳ Further Listening (News Report 3—Politics Further Listening (News Report 3—Politics and the Life of Terri Schiavo)and the Life of Terri Schiavo)

• Listen to the news and paraphrase the following sentences, paying special attention to the italicized words.

• 1. Is all life worth preserving, no matter what the quality?

• 2. “A woman’s life is at stake, and it is absolutely imperative that we take action today.”

• 3. That’s what this country is coming down to.”

Speaking Out Speaking Out In Court In Court Work in groups of six or more, choose one of Work in groups of six or more, choose one of the following situations and act out the court scene.the following situations and act out the court scene.

• Situation 1. Mr. White, a rich businessman, has been in a coma for more than five years and has been kept alive by a feeding tube. His doctor says he has no chance of recovery. His wife has applied to a court for permission to have the machine switched off. His daughter is strongly against the mother’s decision. To make the situation more complex, the wife and the doctor fall in love with each other.

• Situation 2. Terri Schiavo’s case

Further practiceFurther practice

• In this unit we have encountered numerous words and phrases that are used when talking about euthanasia:

Mercy-killing, assisted-suicide, coma, unconsciousness, terminal illness, palliative care, hospice, inhuman, alleviate, prolong, hasten, vegetative state, vegetable, feeding tube…

Study these words and practice telling the news story using the vocabulary as many as possible.