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?

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