Euthanasia: Key Terms and Definitions

VOCABULARY DIRECTLY RELATED TO "EUTHANASIA"

Active euthanasia

In active euthanasia a person directly and deliberately causes the patient's death.

Assisted suicide

This is when the person who wants

Euthanasia: Listening + Tapescript

Listen the Audio :

TAPESCRIPT:

Voice 1

Hello. I’m Liz Waid.

Voice 2

And I’m Ruby Jones. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Listening about "Death"

Click Here and Listen The Audio

  THE TAPESCRIPT

People say that death is the only thing in life that is certain. That’s true. I’m not afraid of dying, but I do think it’s a sad thing. I’d like to live forever. I like life. I want to see my children’s children’s children grow up. People have different views on death in different cultures. In some countries, you die and go to heaven. In other countries you die and come back to Earth as something else. Some people celebrate people’s death because they had a good life. In other countries, death is a sad and dark affair. I know of many countries where death is a taboo subject. People just don’t talk about it. I have no problems talking about death. Especially to my family. I think it’s useful to tell everyone what I want to happen when I die.

ESL Video Quiz: Euthanasia

 QUESTIONS

1) What was John Elliot's profession before he died?
a)  Doctor
b) Politician
c) Ombudsman

History and Debate of Euthanasia

Euthanasia is defined as the practice of ending a life prematurely in order to end pain and suffering. The process is also sometimes called Mercy Killing. Euthanasia can fall into several categories. Voluntary Euthanasia is carried out with the permission of the person whose life is taken. Involuntary euthanasia is carried out without permission, such as in the case of a criminal execution. The moral and social questions surrounding these practices are the most active fields of research in Bioethics today. Many Supreme Court cases, such as Gonzales v. Oregon and Baxter vs. Montana, also surround this issue.

Voluntary euthanasia is typically performed when a person is suffering from a terminal illness and is in great pain. When the patient performs this procedure with the help of a doctor, the term assisted suicide is often used. This practice is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg. It is also legal in the state of Oregon, Washington and Montana. Passive euthanasia is

Euthanasia: Reading Passage & Exercise

The word euthanasia is of Greek origin and literally means “a good death.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as “the act of killing a person painlessly for reasons of mercy.” Such killing can be done through active means, such as administering a lethal injection, or by passive means, such as withholding medical care or food and water.

In recent years in the United States, there have been numerous cases of active euthanasia in the news. They usually involve the deliberate killing of ill or incapacitated persons by relatives or friends who plead that they can no longer bear to see their loved ones suffer. Although such killings are a crime, the perpetrators are often dealt with leniently by our legal system, and the media usually portrays them as compassionate heroes who take personal risks to save another from unbearable suffering.