Euthanasia Is It Morally Accepted by the Filipino People?

Euthanasia is it morally accepted by the Filipino people?

A Research Paper Submitted to

The Faculty of College of Arts and Sciences

Trinity University of Asia

Ms. Mary Bernardine Rizalina C. Gimena

Professor

In Partial Fulfillment of

The Requirements for English 102

Advanced Composition

By:

Belleza, Jane Abigail

Bilaos, Franze Russele O.

Emannuel, Christine Diane

Marquez, Micah

Salazar, Medi

March 2007

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T

The research paper which is entitled " Euthanasia is it morally accepted by the Filipino people?" would not be complete without the help of the persons who gave them further knowledge and assistance about the said topic.

First, the researchers want to give thanks to their English professor Ms. Mary Bernardine Rizalina C. Gimena for the patience and tirelessness support that she had been given in rechecking the paper work and in discussing all the lectures on how to make a good research paper.

A special thanks goes to Dr. Aldelantar of Heart center, A cardiologist who gave the quality time in answering all the questions regarding Euthanasia. He plays a vital role in the study by providing the necessary information on how the medical sector acts and how they see it in a more positive way. The researchers also commend the enthusiastic response of the following nurses of the Philippine Heart Center, MICU section, who enlightened us about the said topic: Ms. Chona Zamora, Ms. Lydle Rose and Mr. Ruel Malemit.

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The researchers also acknowledge the opinion of Minister Sunday Taniegra of Tabernacle of Faith International for dedicating his precious time with the researchers and by citing some negative issues on euthanasia. They are also greatly indebted to their batch mates, 1NU13 who have always been there for them in times of encountering difficulties in doing their research. They would also want to thank the rest of their family for the untiring support and for allowing them to stay overnight in their group mate's house.

Lastly but definitely not the least, to the Lord our God for the wisdom he has given to make this all possible.

Thank You!

CHAPTER I: FOREWORD

A. Background of the study

Euthanasia is a debatable issue in the Philippines since then. Religious groups like Jewish and Christians believe that humans are stewards and not the absolute masters of the gift of life. The faithful believe only God has dominion over life and death. In contrast, others believe that human has its own right to self-determination and to control the time, place and nature of their death. The belief that every human being has the "right to die".

B. Statement of the problem

The researchers intend to find the answer on "Euthanasia is it morally accepted by the Filipino people?" and the researcher also aims to answer the following questions:

* What is Euthanasia?

* What are the classifications of Euthanasia?

* What are the arguments regarding Euthanasia?

* What are the agents used for Euthanasia?

* What are the moral, legal views of Euthanasia?

C. Significance of the Study

The researchers main goal is to widen the readers understanding about Euthanasia and for them to better understand why Euthanasia is practiced in the Philippines nowadays.

D. Scope and Limitations

The research is limited about the Moral, Legal and Scientific issues of euthanasia. It includes how the government and the church react on practicing euthanasia in the Philippines. By conducting interviews and surveys they'll be able to present the different point of views of the said sectors.

E. Definition of Terms

● Euthanasia - is defined as an act or practice of killing painlessly.

* Active Euthanasia - involves any direct intervention to cause death.

* Passive Euthanasia - refers to any act of allowing the patient to die, which may include failing to provide necessary medication as well as taking a patient life support.

* Voluntary Euthanasia -when patients with decision making capacity authorize physicians to take their lives.

* Involuntary Euthanasia -death administered without the recipients consent, commonly known as "mercy killing" as in the case of children or incompetent adults.

* Ordinary means - food, drink, rest medicines an operations which are gravely burdensome to the patient, and which cannot be obtained and used without expense.

* Physician Assisted Dying - is where the doctors provide prescriptions for terminally ill patients to hasten their death.

* Terminal Sedation - practice of relieving distress in a terminally ill person in the last hours of a patient's life.

CHAPTER II: EUTHANASIA

A. Introduction to Euthanasia

Etymologically, euthanasia means "easy death" (from the Greek eu - "easy" and thanatos - "death") (The Reader's digest Great Encyclopedia Dictionary 1966).

It is a broad term for mercy killing, which is the taking away the life