Euthanasia

In early 2015 a 14-year-old Chilean girl suffering from terminal cystic fibrosis posted a video online asking her country's president for permission to end her life. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease with no cure, causing patients lungs and organs to clog with thick layers of mucus. Relying on breathing machines and tubes for feeding. In the video, the 14-year-old girl said, ''I need to speak urgently with the president because I am tired of living with this disease, and I can receive an injection that will allow me to sleep forever." Do you believe euthanasia should be legalised in Chile to help this young girl’s condition?

Inseparable throughout their 50 years of marriage, Canadians George and Betty sought to become the first husband and wife to complete simultaneous suicides with legal authorisation. George suffers from heart disease. However, Betty is reported to be in excellent health. Betty wishes to die alongside her husband of 50 years, stating that, ‘’We are inseparable and I couldn’t imagine life without him.” Do you believe that Betty should be able to receive a lethal injection to die alongside her lifelong partner, despite being in a healthy condition?

Aged 32, Tim was left paralysed from the shoulders down after falling 16 feet from a tree. Two days after his accident, doctors brought Tim out of sedation and told him that he would never be able to walk or live outside of a hospital again. According to his sister Jenny, “We just asked him, do you want this?” and Tim responded No. Should doctors remove Tim’s breathing tubes, he would be leaving behind his recently married pregnant wife, and unborn child. Do you believe removing Tim’s breathing tubes would be the right decision?

In the year 2000, retired mother of 3, Chantal was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer of which only 200 cases have been reported in the last 20 years. A large tumour formed on her face. However, Chantal decided to avoid the risk of surgery and medications, instead fought for the right to die through euthanasia. The 52-year-old mother of three was denied her request for assisted suicide. Do you believe this was the right decision, or should Chantal have been granted her wish to die?