8) Medical Assistance in Dying
What are the main arguments for and against legalizing euthanasia (or physician-assisted dying)?
What fears or values underlie resistance or support (e.g., sanctity of life, autonomy, slippery slope concerns)?
How does it reflect broader societal views on death, dignity, and control?
Read This:
- Douthat, R. (2022), ‘What euthanasia has done to Canada’, The New York Times, 3 December.
- Engelhart, K. (2025), ‘Do patients without a terminal illness have the right to die?’, The New York Times, 1 June.
- Brooks, D. (2023), ‘The outer limits of liberalism’, The Atlantic, 4 May.
- Sherwood, H. (2024), ‘What are the key issues in the assisted dying debate?’, The Guardian, 22 November.
Do This:
Discussion:
Homework:
Write a reflection about today’s discussion. How comfortable did you feel? Did your opinion change at all? Which points were especially persuasive and why?
Watch This:
Sky News, Doctors Debate Assisted Dying:
Listen To This:
BBC Briefing Room, What Can the UK Learn from Other Countries on Assisted Dying?
