Welcome to Bioethics in NewsFilm Online
Within the constraints of the current project it was not possible to prepare reviews of all bioethics-related clips in NewsFilm Online. Click on the image to access a spreadsheet detailing other footage that may be of interest
To see our recommendations regarding particular clips, it is recommended that you use the keyword index in the right-hand menu (or the search tool).
Bioethics in NewsFilm Online was a final year project conducted by Sarah Curtis at the University of Leicester. There are no plans (or resources) at present to add more fully to the current range of reviews and recommendations. If you have any comments or questions about the site please use the Comment facilities. You may be interested in our sister site Bioethicsbytes which is updated more frequently.
To download a spreadsheet detailing bioethics-related footage please click here
Euthanasia – Diane Pretty Loses Suicide Appeal (2001)
Barcode (ID): 06D0619102 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing
Date of Broadcast: 18th October 2001
Clip Duration: 4 min 10 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
Ethical Content Rating
Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: A terminally ill woman has lost her High Court battle over the right to commit suicide with the help of her husband. Diane Pretty, who has Motor Neurone disease, had challenged the refusal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to rule out taking action against her husband if he helps her take her own life.
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Euthanasia – Diane Pretty Legal Ruling (2001)
Barcode (ID): 06D0613799
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Euthanasia
Date of Broadcast: 31st August 2001
Clip Duration: 3 min 26 seconds
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: First, the woman who wants her husband to help her commit suicide because she’s terminally ill has won the first round of her legal battle to allow him to do it. A judge today said Diane Pretty could challenge the decision that her husband – if he helped her die – would not be immune from prosecution. Mrs Pretty – who has motor neurone disease – says that not being allowed to die with dignity is a breach of her human rights.
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Euthanasia – BMA announce change of policy (1999)
Barcode (ID): 03B0550717 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Euthanasia
Date of Broadcast: 23rd June 1999
Clip Duration: 8 min 9 seconds
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Both sides of the argument covered
Description: The British Medical Association has announced a controversial change to its policy on treatment for dying patients. It says doctors should no longer have to seek court approval before withdrawing artificial food and water from someone who’s life may be coming to an end.
- 8 min long broadcast
- Pat Prange – IV removed, Mother left for 30 hours without food or fluid to die – was never told by the doctors what was happening
- She believes it is acceptable to withhold other treatment but not right to withhold food and fluid
- British Medical Association (BMA) guidelines say doctors should be able to stop food and fluid when the patient has no prospect of recovery but is it euthanasia by the ‘back door’
- Aim is to protect doctors from dismissal
- Extremely strict rules – not always ethical to carry on if the treatment is not beneficial to the patient
- Dr David Cohen welcomes the report as it demonstrates there may be alternative to prolonging life and helping to die comfortably is better than prolonging life at all costs
- Hillsborough victim Tony Bland
- Hoped guidelines will help to put decision into the doctors hands
- Karen Cusack has MS and in the past has been close to death but survived – ‘none of us has the right to take an eye but if someone was in a permanent vegetative state it must be soul destroying’
- Question of resources – funding issues to prolong life if patient wishes
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Child Euthanasia Ethics (1995)
Barcode (ID): 03B0212783 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Euthanasia
Date of Broadcast: 21st July 1995
Clip Duration: 3 min 15 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: The parents of toddler Ian Stewart want to have the right to end his life as he is brain-damaged and will suffer more and more as he gets older. There are other similar cases but views vary a lot on the rights and wrongs of making such a decision.
- 2-year-old Ian can touch the roses but is blind and deaf
- In operation suffered brain damage – screamed for days
- Parents say Ian will eventually suffer a long and painful death and believe euthanasia is the only option so he can have a peaceful death
- Young child suffers from cerebral palsy and cries 18 hours a day
- Hospice nurse believes that other families could be in the same position and we should be providing help and the Stewart’s should have had that help a long time ago
- Derek and Lynn have hospice back up and euthanasia is never an option – they believe it is not right for them to ‘play God’
- Campaigners against euthanasia
- Stewart’s believe death will come to us all sooner or later, Ian has had a horrible life and euthanasia will not kill Ian, his heart will
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
‘Exit’ Case (1980)
Barcode (ID): 12d0595864 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Euthanasia
Date of Broadcast: 24th November 1980
Clip Duration: 1 min 16 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
Ethical Content Rating
Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Old news broadcast but still a good story
Description: General Secretary of voluntary euthanasia group, Nicholas Reed and member, Mark Lyons go into Court on charge of aiding suicides with additional charge for Lyons of murder of Isabella Ward.
- Mark Lyons arrived at the court to be charged with 9 count of aiding suicide and 1 of murder
- Introduced by Nicholas Reed to patients
- Found suicide kits at Lyons house and once used a plastic bag when drugs did not work
- Isabella Ward, 90-year-old – Lyons accused of murdering her
- Nicholas Reed also charged
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Health – New Group Formed To Oppose Assisted Suicide (2006)
Barcode (ID): 12D0602969 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Mercy Killing
Date of Broadcast: 31st January 2006
Clip Duration: 2 min 42 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
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Description: More than forty British people have now committed assisted suicide abroad and a new group has been formed to oppose efforts to legalize euthanasia here in Britain.
- Ann Turner, suffered from a degenerative disease, committed assisted suicide abroad
- Interview with Michael Irwin who has been struck off by the BMA as he helped terminally ill people to end their lives in Zürich
- Investigated by the police for suggesting people to get in touch with the company
- 85-year-old under treatment for cancer was asked by the foreign company on the procedure of arranging his suicide
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Euthanasia (1996)
Barcode (ID): 03B0240165 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing
Date of Broadcast: 13th September 1996
Clip Duration: 3 min 30 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
Ethical Content Rating
Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: EUTHANASIA: A look at whether or not mercy killings should be legalised.
- Jane McDonald has chronic MS, cancer and osteoporosis
- Talks about her lack of fear of death but her fear of losing her dignity
- Her husbands says he would defy the law and assist in Jane’s death if he needed too
- Mrs Gardner was with a friend as she died – she did not assist but sat with her
- If she had stopped her she would not have felt right
- If euthanasia was legalised under specific guidelines cases like this would not happen
- e.g. 3 doctors per case
- Netherlands are guidelines where euthanasia is legal
- British Medical Association believe doctors are much better at ‘death management’
- Hospices are greatly improved
- Jane McDonald has a ‘living will’ with her doctor to stop any resuscitation or care
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Euthanasia Trial – Dr Nigel Cox – 4 videos (1992)
Euthanasia Trial – Dr Nigel Cox (1992)
Barcode (ID): 03B0107733 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Mercy Killing
Date of Broadcast: 10th September 1992
Clip Duration: 1 min 38 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: A Hampshire doctor is accused of attempted murder for allegedly giving fatal drugs to an elderly female patient who was in great pain.
- Dr Nigel Cox, a consultant in Rheumatism
- Fuzzy Section
- Urged the jury to set aside their judging and opinions
- Administered potassium chloride to bring her suffering to the end
- Detailed the injections in the victims medical notes – a nurse noticed and brought it to light
- Christine Eales, a nurse witness
Discussion Questions
- Should we, as individuals, have a right to decide how and when we end our lives?
- How would this change if we were ‘critically ill’
- If euthanasia were to be legalized in the UK, how would human life or medical practices be compromised considering what happened in the Netherlands?
- What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia?
- If people are able to commit suicide/or attempt and not be criminalized, why should euthanasia be criminalized?
Similar Questions
- If euthanasia were legalized in the UK, what could be the possible consequences?
- Since suicide is not against the law, should it be illegal to help someone commit suicide?
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Dr Nigel Cox – Found Guilty of Attempted Murder (1992)
Barcode (ID): 03B0127736 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Euthanasia
Date of Broadcast: 19th September 1992
Clip Duration: 1 min 23 seconds
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: A majority jury decision has convicted hospital consultant, Dr Nigel Cox, of the attempted murder of one of his patients to whom he gave a lethal injection because she was close to death and in pain.
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Dr Nigel Cox – Euthanasia Trial (1992)
Barcode (ID): 03B0118882 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Euthanasia
Date of Broadcast: 17th November 1992
Clip Duration: 2 min 32 seconds
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Description: A hearing of the General Medical Council has allowed Dr Nigel Cox to continue to practise medicine. The hearing was brought to consider Dr Cox’s conduct in giving a lethal injection to one of his patients terminally ill Mrs Lillian Boyes.
General Medical Council did not strike off Dr Nigel Cox after giving a lethal injection
Pain killers did not control her pain
He said that she begged him to end her life
He said ‘She pleaded with me, “Please give me a cup of tea and an injection so I can go to sleep. I want to go”.’
‘The pain in the last few days was like something I’ve never seen before. She was howling with pain.’
‘I seemed to have no more options left. It was my intention to relieve her suffering. I could think of no other way of doing it than the route I took.’
‘This lady was going to die in a few minutes. My intervention made very little difference except for the last few moment of comfort or discomfort.’
Fuzzy section due to copyright
Jury took over 4 hours to decide
Press Conference Dr Cox gave his opinion on the difficulty of the decision
The family of the victim campaigned for him
General Medical Council ruling was praised by the campaigners on the ‘right to die’
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Dr Nigel Cox – Euthanasia Trial (1992)
Barcode (ID): 03B0031970 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Mercy Killing
Date of Broadcast: 21st November 1992
Clip Duration: 2 min 11 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
Description: The doctor who gave a lethal injection to terminally ill Lillian Boyes has been convicted of attempted murder and given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for a year.
- Dr Cox left court after being told that his conduct could be explained but not legally excused
- Given a 70-year-old patient to alleviate her pain
- Guilty verdict and prison sentence
- Family of victim speaks out – believes his Mother would be horrified at the sentence
- British Medical Association say should be sympathetic to doctors
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
Spider Webs – Use In Chemical Testing (1995)
Barcode (ID): 03B0216735 
Main Search Term and Keywords: Animal Testing, Animal Rights
Date of Broadcast: 27th April 1995
Clip Duration: 1 min 4 seconds
Scientific Content Rating
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Usefulness for Teaching Bioethics
An interesting video on the affects of drugs on spiders
Description: The spiders ability to spin a web has intrigued scientists for centuries but NASA has been carrying out experiments to see how that ability is effected by being given substances like marijuana & caffeine.
- Spiders under the influence of different drugs affected the spinning of their webs
- Different types of web – depicts a normal web with those woven whilst spider are under the influence of drugs
- Marijuana – started normal, not finished
- Benzedrene – frenzied web spinning
- Caffeine – hardly string any web at all
- Scientist provide alternative to traditional way chemicals are tested on animals
Web Link: Click here to access clip (then click on ‘search and browse’)
To download clip, you must login – instructions can be found on the NewsFilmOnline website or on the Accessing Videos page above
