‘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?

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