PLAN FOR THE ESSAY:
RESOURCES ->
Ethical Matters (pages 60) petter and Charlotte Vardy issue volume 152- Euthanasia and the right to die
Euthanasia and the catholic church
Christian theology Trust- Medical ethics
Ethics matters
A comparison to ethics
Websites: www.Ageconcern.com www.saves.asn.au www.carenotkilling.org.uk www.daa.org.uk www.bioethics.ie www.lifenews.com www.newscientist.com www.NHSdirect.nhs.uk www.nursing-standard.co.uk www.religioustolerance.org www.reuters.com www.royalsociety.org www.yougov.com www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia
KEY WORDS AND DEFINITIONS
Active euthanasia
In active euthanasia a person directly and deliberately causes the patient's death.
Assisted suicide
This is when the person who wants to die needs help to kill themselves, asks for it and receives it.
Competence
A competent patient is one who understands his or her medical condition, what the likely future course of the disease is, and the risks and benefits associated with the treatment of the condition; and who can communicate their wishes.
Dignity
The value that a human being has simply by existing, not because of any property or action of an individual.
DNR
Abbreviation for Do Not Resuscitate. Instruction telling medical staff not to attempt to resuscitate the patient if the patient has a heart attack.
Doctrine of Double Effect
Ethical theory that allows the use of drugs that will shorten life, if the primary aim is only to reduce pain.
Futile treatment
Treatment that the health care team think will be completely ineffective.
Indirect euthanasia
This means providing treatment (usually to reduce pain) that has the foreseeable side effect of causing the patient to die sooner.
Involuntary euthanasia
This occurs when the person who dies wants to live but is killed anyway. It is usually the same thing as murder.
Living will
A document prepared by an individual in which