Unit 6 Ethics in medicine euthanasia

Vocabulary

1. Match the words with their definitions and write the transcription of the words in column 2. Translate the words in column 1 into Russian:

1	2	3
1)suicide (n.)		performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly
2)relief (n.)		carried out without one’s conscious wishes unintentional
3)palliative (adj.)		A feeling of cheerfulness or optimism that follows the removal of pail or distress
4)voluntary (adj.)		to further or encourage the progress or existence
5)promote (v.)		to give permission, agree
6)disabled (adj.)		the act of killing oneself intentionally
7)consent (n.)		lacking one or more physical powers
8)terminally-ill (adv.)		serving to palliate, relieving without curing
9)justifiable (adj.)		incurably ill
10)involuntary (adj.)		understandable

Listening

1. Read the newspaper article quickly before listening and say if Dr Kevorkian a saint or a monster?

• In the USA, a doctor is facing trial for helping a woman kill herself. Mrs Atkins, aged 54, contacted Dr Jack Kevorkian and explained that she wanted to end hoer life because she was suffering from an incurable disease. The doctor put his suicide machine into a van and he drove to a park where he told Mrs Atkins how to administer the fatal injection. In his defense the doctor said:’ She knew what she was doing, she wanted to end her life. I asked her if she knew what that meant. She said, “Yes, I’m going to die. There’s nothing for me. There’s no life.”

2. Robert, Jasmine and Thomas are discussing the Kevorkian case. Answer questions 1-7 by writing/saying r (for Robert), j (for Jasmine) and t (for Thomas)

1. Who completely disagrees with what the doctor did?

2. Who claims that Mrs Atkins killed herself?

3. Who thinks the quality of a patient’s life is an important issue?

4. Who thinks sick people aren’t always able to make good decisions?

5. Who is worried about what might happen in the future?

6. Who believes doctors already make life and death decisions for patents?

7. Who thinks the doctor may escape justice?

From Think Ahead to First Certificate by Jon Naunton

Before you read

1. You are going to read an article about euthanasia, which is the termination of a very sick person's life in order to relieve them of their suffering. Why is there so much opposition to this presumably humane idea?

2. Discuss with your partner the following questions.

- On whose request does a doctor agree to euthanasia?

- Is euthanasia unethical?

- What does the law say about euthanasia?