Death and Dying in the 21st Century

Choose Two

View at least two of the following videos around death and dying, euthanasia, and/or physician-assisted suicide. Alternatively, select videos/documentaries of your choice that are related to the topic.

• Physician-Assisted Suicide Right or Wrong (YouTube|10:04)
  • One of the most controversial topics in the world of healthcare and medicine is the act of dying under the supervision of a physician. Some people have very strong thoughts and opinions on this topic. There are those who support the right to die and those who are opposed to it, and both have several reasons why they feel this way.
• Should Assisted Dying Laws Be Reformed? Doctors Disagree In Powerful Debate | Good Morning Britain (YouTube|10:47)
  • New figures from the campaign group My Death My Decision have revealed that 30% of people who travel to Switzerland for an assisted death, do so without the police’s knowledge. Assisted suicide in England and Wales is punishable by up to 14 years in jail; however, there are some who think it is time to reform the law. Dr. Henry Marsh and Dr. Mark Pickering debate the issue.
• Expert Discusses Assisted Death for Mental Illness Sufferers (YouTube|12:19)
  • Jocelyn Downie, the James S. Palmer Chair in Public Policy and Law at Dalhousie University, joins Conservative Political Action Conference’s (CPAC) Peter Van Dusen to discuss why those suffering from mental illness should have access to medically assisted death.
• The Right to Die in Belgium: An Inside Look at the World’s Most Liberal Euthanasia Law (YouTube|11:18)
  • With the most liberal laws in the world governing physician-assisted suicide, surveys in Belgium show overwhelming support for its legality. Doctors say euthanasia gives terminally ill patients experiencing constant and unbearable suffering a practical and humane way to die peacefully. But even in a country with far-reaching acceptance, controversy still remains.
• Let’s Talk About Dying – Peter Saul (YouTube|13:19)
  • In this talk, intensive care doctor Peter Saul discusses the current experience of dying and how we should re-think the use of modern technology to “occupy death.”

Essay 

Thoughtfully reflect on the issues discussed in the talks that you have watched. If you have chosen an alternative video to those on the list, please thoroughly identify the video.

In your essay, please address the following questions: 

• What are the basic issues and main themes addressed in the videos?
• Were the issues addressed from a biased or unbiased perspective? Were the presenters operating with an underlying agenda?
• Was there agreement or disagreement among presenters regarding the main issues addressed?
• What were the major moral/ethical issues related to these topics?

Your document should be between 300-500 words in length. Any references to support your work must be cited in the most current APA format.

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