Should you be able to die?

The right to die

Many people think that everyone has the right to control their own life and so should be able to decide how and when they will die.

Some people disagree because they believe that God should decide when a person dies.

Others argue that deciding to die will cause guilt and grief for other people including family and friends and these consequences must be considered too.

Key terms

• Active euthanasia
  In active euthanasia a person directly and deliberately causes the patient's death.
• Assisted suicide
  This is when the person who wants to die receives help to die.
• Indirect euthanasia
  This means providing treatment that causes the patient to die sooner.
• Non-voluntary euthanasia
  When a person is unable to ask for euthanasia (they could be unconscious or unable to communicate), someone else makes the decision on their behalf, perhaps to follow their will or wishes.
• Passive euthanasia
  In passive euthanasia death is caused by stopping treatment in order to let the person die.
• Voluntary euthanasia
  This is where euthanasia is carried out at the request of the person who dies.

Euthanasia - a personal choice?

In this clip members of the general public are interviewed for their opinions on whether God, or the individual should have the right to decide when an intolerable existence should end.

Your thoughts

"What if your ill and theres no point living? Brain damaged and dont understand anything? Or just wanting to die? Do you think its right?" CELTICGIRL

"I think its impossible to know until you or someone close to you has been in that position." folkyandproud

"I think its their right 2 die if their quality of life is bad." U14202651