Urban Debate League Round 1 – Pre-release motion

The week beginning 23rd January (or a week later if you’re in the regions) sees the start of the Urban Debate League, which we like to think of as the Champions League of debating. You’ll be competing against other schools in your area to try and grab the top spots of the national league table, and the competition takes place over three rounds, culminating in a grand final in early summer.

Looking to the present, the first round contains two debates, the first of which has a pre-released motion, which is (drum roll please)…

THIS HOUSE WOULD LEGALIZE EUTHANASIA

Your mentors will be helping you prepare this motion in the next two sessions, but here are some thoughts, ideas and facts to get you started:

What is it?

Voluntary euthanasia is when someone ends another person’s life upon their request. A related term is ‘assisted suicide’ which involves someone providing an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take their own life knowing that they will be used for this purpose, but the patient  himself commits the act that causes death . Voluntary euthanasia is usually administered by act which is when a person’s death is intentionally caused by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection.

Where does this happen?

Currently the only states in the world to have legalised voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide are the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Oregon and Washington (USA). 

Why would someone ask for voluntary euthanasia?

• They may be suffering from intense pain due to an illness
• They may want to control the manner in which they die so they can retain some dignity

Are there any potential risks?

• The decision to kill yourself is irreversible
• There  exists potential to put pressure on sick family members to end their lives

Key Statistics

• Dignitas is an organisation in Switzerland that facilitates suicide. 694 British people travelled to Switzerland to die at Dignitas.
• A survey was completed by a sample of 986 medical practitioners from a wide range of medical professions in the UK from March 26th to April 9th 2003. It showed that 60% were against euthanasia and 60% were against assisted suicide. When asked if they would be prepared to perform either if they were legalised, 76% said ‘no’ to euthanasia and 74% said no to assisted suicide.

Useful links:

• Dignitas - a clinic in Switzerland which offers assisted suicide to terminally ill people
• Q&A on assisted suicide – The Guardian - which examines the legal issues surrounding the updated guidelines
• Q&A on assisted suicide – BBC News - a similar piece from the BBC
• “Euthanasia and assisted suicide” – BBC Health – an article on historical and global perspectives on the subject
• “The law’s a muddle. Is that such a bad thing?” – The Times – columnist Philip Collins gives a balanced view of the situation, concluding that perhaps the current legal position of ambiguity is best.

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