Question

I need help putting together a slide show with 10 slides pertaining to mercy killings/euthanasia. They have to include

A summary of your case with critiques

Ethical and legal ramifications (be thorough)

An assessment of both sides of the argument in your case

Recommendations for change

Evaluation of how you will use this information in the future

Answer 1

Mercy killings/euthanasia is the act or practice of ending the life of a person either by lethal injection or suspension of medical treatment. The word "euthanasia" was first used in a medical context by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, to refer to an easy, painless, happy death, during which it was a "physician's responsibility to alleviate the 'physical sufferings' of the body.

In Europe, Euthanasia is only legal in the Netherlands and Belgium, provided certain conditions are met.

For example, the patient’s request must be voluntary and well-considered; the patient must be suffering unbearable physical or mental suffering, with no prospect of relief the patient must be informed about their situation and prospects; at least one other, independent, the doctor must be consulted.

In Belgium euthanasia is only allowed if the patient is an adult.

However, in the Netherlands euthanasia is allowed for children aged between 12 and 16 years of age, with the consent of their parents/guardians and for individuals aged 16 years and over.

Assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the state of Oregon in the US but has certain conditions eg: the patient must be considered competent and aware of their situation.

In Japan: Only " passive " euthanasia is permitted for patients who have been in a Coma for more than 3 months

While in Egypt, or in Islamic countries in general, the popular Egyptians' Scholar Sheikh, recently issued a fatwa. equating euthanasia with murder but allowing the withholding of treatment that is deemed useless.

Case summary:

Frank Van Den Bleeken:

Frank Van Den Bleeken was a Belgian convicted of serial murder and rape who has been imprisoned for almost three decades. He was temporarily released and convict other brutal convictions. He sought the right to die because he was "suffering unbearably" from his psychiatric condition. Unable to control his urges, the convict had no prospect of living in freedom. "He has clearly said that he didn't want to leave prison because he didn't want to risk creating further victims," he said. Seeing himself as a danger to society, he could "no longer live like that", his lawyer said. After doctors agreed that his psychological condition is incurable, Belgium's justice minister approved his transfer to a hospital where doctors will end his life on January 11, 2015. But on January 6, the justice minister announced that Van Den Bleekin’s “right to die” was withdrawn by his doctors. He was instead transferred to a psychiatric prison ward.

"For advocates of both palliative care and euthanasia, the good death is one in which I make my own choices about my last days and months. In individualistic societies, the bad death is that of the person with no autonomy ..., who cannot communicate his or her wishes or whose brain has so deteriorated that there are no wishes left."