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tobacco products. The government could control it just like tobacco companies. If they would put heavy taxes on it they would make a huge profit and be making Americans happy at the same time.”
LESSON 6
A. VOCABULARY
A1. Do you know these words? Match the words with their definitions:
Suicide homicide |
assassination |
euthanasia |
manslaughter |
murder |
|
a.the killing of an important person deliberately, especially for political reasons;
b.the crime of killing someone;
c.the crime of deliberately killing someone;
d.the crime of causing someone’s death without intention;
e.the action of deliberately killing yourself;
f.the practice of killing a very old or a very ill person in order to stop them from suffering
B. READING
B1. Before you read the text, try to match the following expressions with their meanings:
a. |
legitimation of |
1. |
право на существование |
|
euthanasia |
2. |
пытаться сделать все |
b. |
terminally ill patient |
возможное |
|
c. |
suicide act |
3. |
быть виновным в убийстве |
d. |
codification of the |
4. |
облегчать страдания |
|
norms |
5. |
узаконивание эвтаназии |
e. |
be guilty of murder |
6. |
снять ответственность |
f. |
to release liability |
7. |
безнадежно больной пациент |
g. |
the right of subsistence |
8. |
кодификация норм |
h. |
alleviate suffering |
9. |
акт самоубийства |
i.to try someone’s best
The right to die or the right to live?
The debate on euthanasia has lasted for many years. There is much research on euthanasia no matter in jurisprudence or medical areas and there are many different opinions on it. People who support the legitimation of euthanasia believe that we should respect patients to choose how to die and that it also meets the principle of humanitarianism. In the Netherlands, the
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law allows doctors to help terminally ill patients to die. The law on euthanasia is governed by the "Termination of life on request and assisted suicide act" of 10 April, 2001 that entered into force on 1 April, 2002. This act is generally considered as the codification of the norms and procedures that have governed the practice of euthanasia in the Netherlands for almost three decades. In Great Britain public support for legislation to permit assisted dying has grown from 69% in 1976 to 82% in 2004. These views are echoed in an ethical analysis by Professor Torbjorn Tannsjo, who argues that a system for euthanasia would mean that people could approach the terminal phase of their lives without fear. "They would know that, if, when their turn comes, and things turn out to be terrible, they have a way out," he writes.
In China doctors and family members who help the patients to make the euthanasia happen are guilty of murder under present laws. So, they wish to release these people's liability by passing a law on euthanasia. Experts who oppose euthanasia believe that the right of subsistence is deprived by other people no matter if it is the will of the patients or not. Many doctors warn that the legitimation of euthanasia may open a door for crimes like murder. Recent research in Belgium had pointed out that Belgian (or at least Flemish) physicians frequently 'forget' to obtain the patient’s request before ending his life.
“As a doctor, I suggest cancer patients be given pain killing prescriptions to alleviate their suffering. We should try our best to help terminally ill patients spend the rest of their lives with less pain and more happiness”, says Chen Fan, a doctor of Beijing Tumor Hospital in China.
C. COMPREHENSION
C1. Answer the questions on the text.
1.According to the text, why do some people support euthanasia? What are the reasons for their support?
2.Why do other people oppose euthanasia? What are their arguments against it?
3.Is euthanasia legal in the Netherlands? What is the basic document governing this matter?
4.Did euthanasia exist in the Netherlands before the enactment?
5.What is the attitude of the British people to this problem?
6.Does the practice of euthanasia exist in China? Is it legal?
D. VOCABULARY
D1. Find in the text the following expressions:
a)поддерживать узаконивание эвтаназии
b)соответствовать принципу гуманитаризма
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c)закон вступил в силу 1 апреля 2002 года
d)самоубийство, совершаемое с чьей-либо помощью
e)иметь выход (из тяжелого положения)
f)лишать права существования
g)давать обезболивающие средства
D2. Match the definitions with the words.
Debate, deprive, echo (v), fear, humanitarianism, meet, oppose, physician, recent, request, research, respect, warn, will
1)the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts:
2)a discussion in which people or groups state different opinions about a subject:
3)a feeling of alarm that something bad or unpleasant might happen:
4)the attitude that someone is important and you should treat them politely:
5)to take something away from somebody:
6)mental power by which a person can direct his thoughts and actions:
7)to tell about a possible problem, to inform in advance what may happen:
8)something happening or starting a short time ago:
9)an act of asking for something:
10)to disagree with something, try to stop it:
11)people’s efforts to help those who live in bad conditions:
12)to express the same words or ideas that someone else has expressed:
13)a person who practice medicine:
14)to satisfy, be adequate:
E. DISCUSSION
E1. Work in groups. Read the story from the real life and discuss the questions below.
From when he was a young man, Dr. Carrington had suffered from a chronic lung* illness. Pneumonia had followed pneumonia. Despite his disease*, he had still managed to practice psychiatry with some success; but finally, the progressive nature of his condition meant that he needed treatment in an intensive care unit* with 24-hour-a-day supervision, breathing only with the aid of a respirator. He had intravenous lines* in his arms; he had many blood tests drawn; he had a breathing tube attached into his neck, and all these things were uncomfortable. Besides that, not sleeping and pain. Finally, the patient himself asked that the doctors kill him: “Doctor, will you help me to die?” They did so – through a drug overdose.
lung – легкие disease – болезнь
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intensive care unit – отделение интенсивной терапии intravenous lines – внутривенные трубки
Questions for discussion:
1.Were the actions of the doctors ethical, moral, lawful?
2.Should the patient’s request to die have been respected?
3.Or was it a request made in a moment of desperation and to be ignored?
4.If you were a wife (a friend, a son) of this man, what would you do?
F. SPEAKING OUT
F1. Are you a supporter or an opposer of euthanasia? Give your opinion concerning legitimation of euthanasia. Consider the following reasons for and against it:
Voluntary euthanasia is unnecessary because alternative treatment exists.
Euthanasia violates historically accepted codes of medical ethics.
It may give too much power to doctors.
Emotional state of a patient does not allow to make right decision.
Voluntary euthanasia leads to involuntary euthanasia.
It will be difficult to differentiate murders of people with illness from assisted suicide.
Euthanasia would not only be for people who are “terminally ill”.
Doctors are motivated by cost factors.
Who decides that there is no hope? Even best doctors may be mistaken.
People suffer from unbearable pain. Everyone has a right to commit suicide. People should not be forced to stay alive.
Government has no right to make people suffer.
G. IT IS USEFUL TO KNOW
G1. Read the following information.
Where are euthanasia and assisted suicide legal?
The state of Oregon, the Netherlands and Belgium are the only jurisdictions in the world where laws permit euthanasia and assisted suicide.
What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide?