Voluntary Euthanasia in the United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper focuses on voluntary euthanasia, euthanasia in which a clearly competent person makes a voluntary request for assistance in dying, which is different from non-voluntary euthanasia because, in this case, a person is either not competent or unable to express a wish about euthanasia. The author points out that many critics believe permitting voluntary euthanasia, which is supported by many people, will lead to permitting non-voluntary euthanasia. The paper states that, in the United Kingdom, physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia is illegal, but euthanasia was legalized in certain circumstances in the Netherlands in 1994, in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1997, and, in November 1997, Oregon voters approved the Death with Dignity Act (DWDA); the United Kingdom also should legalize a humane death.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Legalized Euthanasia
About Euthanasia
United Kingdom Law
A Look at the Issue
Conditions for Candidacy for Voluntary Euthanasia
A Case for Voluntary Euthanasia
Objections to Voluntary Euthanasia
A Closer Look at U.K. Legislation
The Importance of Autonomy and Consent
Methodology
Results and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Many religious groups oppose euthanasia because it goes against their faiths. Thomas Aquinas documented traditional Christian beliefs on the issue of suicide (Gula, 1997). Suicide was condemned because it harms other people, and because life is the gift of God and can only taken away by God. Muslims, and Jewish are amongst other faiths that believe life is given by God, and can only be taken away by God. One of the other major points made by religious groups is that "God does not send any experience that we cannot handle (p. 145)". For some faith groups, such as the Roman Catholics, "human suffering can have a positive value for the terminally ill and the caregivers"."

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