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?

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