Critically consider the ethical and legal arguments for and against euthanasia
Table of Statutes
Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act [2003]
Human Rights Act [1998]
Proposed Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill
Suicide Act [1961]
Table of Cases
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] AC 789
Fleming v Ireland [2013] 1 ECHR 2
Haas v Switzerland [2011] 35 EHRR 33
Heaney v Ireland [1994] 3 IR 593
Pretty v United Kingdom [2002] 35 EHRR 1
R v Cox [1992] B.M.L.R 38
R (on the application of Lamb) v Ministry of Justice [2013] EWCA Civ 466
R (on the application of Nicklinson) v Ministry of Justice [2012] H.R.L.R 32
R (on the application of Purdy) v DPP [2009] UKHL 44
Over the past decade the issue of euthanasia has gained vast support on both of the opposing sides, it continues to be one of the most controversial issues in modern day Britain. The most common form of euthanasia is assisted suicide in which someone suffering from a terminal illness such as multiple sclerosis would ask a family member to aid them in ending their life by whatever means necessary. The general view of euthanasia is the as straight forward as flicking a switch and should be legal based on that juvenile belief. In reality euthanasia can be dissected to reveal an array of tiers in which the simple action is not as clear-cut as it is portrayed. These tiers take the forms of passive, active, voluntary and involuntary. The view is those that oppose euthanasia is based largely on the belief in palliative care and religious reasoning, in which life is portrayed as a gift from god and ending life prematurely is fundamentally wrong. These opposing views are ethical and frequently changing and adapting based largely on public opinion conversely the views of the law is constant and until recently was never questioned yet since the introduction of the European Courts of Human Rights into Britain there has been more and more demand for reform to allow for euthanasia under certain circumstances. It is essential that both sides of the debate
Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act [2003]
Human Rights Act [1998]
Proposed Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill
Suicide Act [1961]
Table of Cases
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] AC 789
Fleming v Ireland [2013] 1 ECHR 2
Haas v Switzerland [2011] 35 EHRR 33
Heaney v Ireland [1994] 3 IR 593
Pretty v United Kingdom [2002] 35 EHRR 1
R v Cox [1992] B.M.L.R 38
R (on the application of Lamb) v Ministry of Justice [2013] EWCA Civ 466
R (on the application of Nicklinson) v Ministry of Justice [2012] H.R.L.R 32
R (on the application of Purdy) v DPP [2009] UKHL 44
Over the past decade the issue of euthanasia has gained vast support on both of the opposing sides, it continues to be one of the most controversial issues in modern day Britain. The most common form of euthanasia is assisted suicide in which someone suffering from a terminal illness such as multiple sclerosis would ask a family member to aid them in ending their life by whatever means necessary. The general view of euthanasia is the as straight forward as flicking a switch and should be legal based on that juvenile belief. In reality euthanasia can be dissected to reveal an array of tiers in which the simple action is not as clear-cut as it is portrayed. These tiers take the forms of passive, active, voluntary and involuntary. The view is those that oppose euthanasia is based largely on the belief in palliative care and religious reasoning, in which life is portrayed as a gift from god and ending life prematurely is fundamentally wrong. These opposing views are ethical and frequently changing and adapting based largely on public opinion conversely the views of the law is constant and until recently was never questioned yet since the introduction of the European Courts of Human Rights into Britain there has been more and more demand for reform to allow for euthanasia under certain circumstances. It is essential that both sides of the debate