The document discusses euthanasia, defining it as intentionally ending a life to relieve suffering. It categorizes euthanasia as voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary and active or passive. While euthanasia is not legal in the Philippines, some use it due to lack of treatment options for terminally ill poor patients. The Catholic Church strictly prohibits all forms of suicide and euthanasia, seeing it as contrary to the dignity of human life. The debate around assisted suicide and euthanasia is ongoing globally.

1. Group 5
St. Claudia

2. DEFINITION
 Euthanasia
(origin: Greek; meaning
"good death”)refers to
the practice of ending a
life in a manner which
relieves pain and
suffering.

3.  According to the House of
Lords Select Committee on
Medical Ethics, the precise
definition of euthanasia is
"a deliberate intervention
undertaken with the
express intention of ending
a life, to relieve intractable
suffering."

4.  Euthanasia is categorized in
different ways, which include
voluntary, non-voluntary, or
involuntary and active or
passive.
 “An action or omission which
of itself and by intention
causes death, with the
purpose of eliminating
suffering.” (EV 65)

5. TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
 VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA is conducted with the
consent of the patient is termed voluntary euthanasia.
 Ex: When the patient brings about his or her own
death with the assistance of a physician, the
term ”assisted suicide” is often used instead.

6.  NONVOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA is conducted
where the consent of the patient is unavailable.
 Ex: Child euthanasia is a controversial form of non-
voluntary euthanasia that is applied to children who
are gravely ill or suffer from significant birth defects.

7.  INVOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA is conducted against
the will of the patient is termed involuntary
euthanasia.

8. PHILIPPINE SETTING

9.  Euthanasia is not legal here in the Philippines but
some are using Euthanasia or mercy killing on
terminally ill patients and most of them are poor. They
have no other choice but to use Euthanasia to stop the
patient from suffering from pain.

10. DATA/ NUMBERS/
FACTS

11.  Only 2 out of 10 terminally ill
patients survives because of
proper medications. The
remaining 8 out of 10 is
sentenced to Euthanasia.

12.  A survey in the United
States of more than 10,000
physicians came to the
result that approximately
16% of physicians would
ever consider halting life-
sustaining therapy because
the family demands
it, even if believed that it
was premature.
Approximately 55% would
not, and for the remaining
29%, it would depend on
circumstances.

13.  This study also stated that
approx. 46% of physicians
agree that physician-
assisted suicide should be
allowed in some cases; 41%
do not, and the remaining
14% think it depends.

15. STAND OF THE
CHURCH

16.  In the most recent version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
(2003), all forms of suicide and euthanasia remain strictly
prohibited, but questions of moral culpability and eternal salvation are
left open. Paragraphs 2280-83 of Article 5 (On the Fifth
Commandment) address suicide:
2280: Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to
him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged
to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation
of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted
to us. It is not ours to dispose of.
2281: Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to
preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of
self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the
ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to
which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for
the living God.

17. 2282: If suicide is committed with the intention of
setting an example, especially to the young, it also
takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation
in suicide is contrary to the moral law. Grave
psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of
hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the
responsibility of the one committing suicide.
2283: We should not despair of the eternal salvation of
persons who have taken their own lives. By ways
known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity
for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons
who have taken their own lives.

18. Paragraphs 2276-79 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
address euthanasia and related issues.
2276: Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve
special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to
lead lives as normal as possible.
2277: Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists
in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying
persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission
which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to
eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary
to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due
to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into
which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of
this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and
excluded.

19. 2278: Discontinuing medical procedures that are
burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to
the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-
zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's
inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be
made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by
those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will
and legitimate interests must always be respected.
2279: Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to
a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of
painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk
of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with
human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a
means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable. Palliative
care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should
be encouraged.

20. POPE JOHN PAUL II
 Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be
burdened with the life of someone who is
suffering, euthanasia must not be called “false
mercy”, and indeed a disturbing ‘perversion’ of mercy.
 True compassion leads to sharing another’s pain: It
does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot
bear.

21. CONCLUSION

22.  The assisted suicide/euthanasia debate is still in
its infancy, with the ultimate outcome very much
in doubt.
 Public opinion polls show solid majority support for
limited legalization, but the polls also demonstrate
that popular support drops significantly when specific
details of legislative proposals are examined. One
thing is clear: euthanasia/ assisted suicide
controversy is likely to be a significant source of
societal contention and political argument for
many years to come.

24. SOURCES
 Wikipedia.org
 Encyclopedia.com