Euthenasia

Definition of Assisted Suicide

1. Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose.

2. When it is a doctor who helps another people to kill themselves it is called physician suicide.

B. Case study: Peter Clinque

1. Terminal stage of diabetes, blind and lost both of his legs

2. Wanted to die and then went into a comma

C. Case study: George Koss

1. Suffered from Lou Gehrigs disease

2. Wanted to die and in the end killed himself

II. Time Line

A. 1930's: Nazi program of involuntary active euthanasia

B. Early 1970's: Decriminalization of PAS in the Netherlands

C. 1960's: Beginning of Hospice movement

D. 1975: Quinlan

E. 1984-5: Elizabeth Bouvia decision

F. 1990: Cruzan decision by US Supreme Court

G. 1990: Timothy Quill publishes an account of his role in death of "Diane"

H. 1990-8: Kevorkian aids- 100 suicides

I. 1994: Oregon Death with Dignity Act approved by referendum

J. 1994-6: 2nd Circuit (Quill vs. Vacco) and 9th Circuit (Washington vs.

Glucksburg) decision declared PAS constitutionally protected.

III. Pro Arguments