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

Scientific Content Rating

Ethical Content Rating

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?

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