Euthanasia
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Types of

• Passive-hastening the death of a person by withdrawing some form of support and letting nature take its course (removing life support; stopping medical procedures; stopping food and water; not delivering CPR)
• Active-cause death of a person through a direct action
• Involuntary-killing a person in opposition to their wishes; murder

Basics in the argument FOR Euthanasia- Should a person:

• who is terminally ill, and
• who feels that their life is not worth living because of intractable pain, and/or loss of dignity, and/or loss of capability and
• who repeatedly and actively asks for help in committing suicide and
• who is of sound mind and not suffering from depression

     be given the option to request assistance?

The main opposition comes from:

• conservative religious groups.
• medical associations whose members are dedicated to saving and extending life
• groups concerned with disabilities

Public Opinion on Euthanasia

      One recent poll gave these results in support of euthanasia:
       (CNN/USA Today poll of June 1997 and Gallup Canada Poll, 1995))

• 58% in favor, 35% opposed in the US
• 76% in Canada
• 80% in Britain
• 81% in Australia
• 92% in the Netherlands