2014年7月28日月曜日

Easeful death

Assisted suicide
Easeful death
Most people in the Western world favour assisted suicide. The law should reflect their will.

The economist supports making assisted suicide legal by taking the case of Tony Nicklinson who was a former rugby player and skydiver, developed locked-in syndrome. In Britain, its House of Lords is trying to pass laws to guarantee the right of easeful death. In addition to this, this newspaper argues that societies need to find their own boundaries and carve out exception after careful consideration (gradualism).

Objection side:
l   Assisted suicide should not allow on moral or religious grounds.
l   It conflicts with doctor’s oath to “do no harm”(the Hippocratic oath)
l   Vulnerable people may feel pressure to spare their carers the burden

Britain’s case:
l   Require an individual wanting to die to be assessed by two doctors and be judged to have less than six months to live.
l   Have to administer the lethal drugs himself
l   Allow only for people whose death is imminent

Discussion:
l   Do you support assisted suicide? Which opinion do you prefer to stand?
l   Can you accept the right of easeful death for…
      brain death people or people who cannot express their will
      terminally ill children
      not imminent people (Nicklinson)
      people who have suicidal thoughts
How should we find our own boundaries and exceptions? Should we set