Euthanasia is the deliberate ending of someone’s life for compassionate reasons. Many Buddhists feel good karmic consequences are achieved by a 'good death', and support the hospice movement.
What does "euthanasia" mean?
Deliberately killing someone
Making the dying suffer
Gentle and easy death
What does UK law say about euthanasia?
Euthanasia is illegal
Euthanasia is suicide
Euthanasia is legal
What is active euthanasia?
Active euthanasia is when they remove treatment and let a person die
Active euthanasia is when the dying person requests for it
Active euthanasia is when someone deliberately does something to bring about death
What is a hospice?
Hospice is another name for a hospital
A hospice is where dying people go to be cared for until natural death
A hospice is where people go to receive euthanasia
What is "the slippery slope" argument?
If you allow euthanasia, you will increase the dignity of life
If you allow euthanasia, other ways of removing the unwanted will follow
If you allow euthanasia, doctors will have too much power
What is meant by "self-determination"?
Self-determination means that people can decide for themselves about their own lives
Self-determination means that the government can tell people what they must do
Self-determination means that other people decide what is going to happen
Which of the Buddhist Five Precepts is particularly important for Buddhists when considering the issue of euthanasia?
I will not harm another living being
I will not lie
I will not take what is not freely given
What does karuna mean?
That we should never intentionally harm another being
The belief that whatever we do has an effect on our future lives
Compassion for the suffering of others
Why would a doctor who administers euthanasia be performing a bad action?
They would be taking a life and this goes against the first Precept
They would be involved in a practice which is totally condemned by Buddhism
They would be going against the law of the country
Why might euthanasia be a compassionate action?
The aim of euthanasia might be to relieve someone from extreme suffering
If euthanasia is done in someone's best interests, even if they don't consent
Euthanasia is compassionate as the Dalai Lama says that it is