In Great Britain, a patient named Tony Nicklinson was paralyzed ...

[yoooooman]

In Great Britain, a patient named Tony Nicklinson was paralyzed from the neck down
  and unable to speak after a severe stroke several years ago.

 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Conduct research in responsible sources in print and on-line to learn about the laws
  on assisted suicide in your state.

 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Jody Vaughn]

Answer to Question 1

He communicated by
blinking and it seemed clear to all who treated him that he was mentally competent. Due
to his paralyzed condition, active euthanasia by a doctor (not assisted suicide) would be
necessary to terminate his life. A British court denied this request for a doctor to take his
life, even though a year before his stroke Niklinson had drawn up legal papers to refuse
extraordinary life-saving medical treatment. He then caught pneumonia and refused to
eat, dying just one week after the court refused his request. Because Nicklinson had
signed legal documents before his stroke and when there was no doubt about his mental
competence, should the court have granted his request for euthanasia? Is euthanasia
distinguishable from assisted suicide in such a situation? If assisted suicide would have
been justifiable, should euthanasia also be justifiable when a patient is paralyzed in the
manner of Niklinson?

Answer to Question 2

Research the current law in Oregon, Washington,
Montana, and the Netherlands to see what requirements they have for assisted
suicide. Discuss whether you find the requirements acceptable for allowing assisted
suicide where you live. For example, all require informed consent by mentally
competent adult patients. But if a patient is terminally ill and suffering from clinical
depression, is it possible for them to freely give informed consent?

[yoooooman]

Gracias!

[peter]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it