The Right to Die: Euthanasia, a choice for the dying.

Abstract: The Bill of Rights of the Philippines aims to protect the life and liberty of the people, the right to live and the right of choice. But what if such life is already approaching deterioration, does that person have the liberty to choose death over a life of agony? This is what this research seeks to show its readers, that dying people should be given the right to choose when to end their suffering through assistance of another person. This research will discuss the history and facts about Euthanasia, the countries that legalized Euthanasia and the laws governing it, the people who should be given the choice to die, the reasons for euthanasia, its pros and cons, and arguments against it. On record, Germany was the first to openly legalize mercy killing during the Nazi regime on October of 1939, amid the turmoil of the outbreak of war Hitler ordered widespread "mercy killing" of the sick and disabled. Code named "Aktion T 4," the Nazi euthanasia program to eliminate "life unworthy of life" at focused on newborns and very young children showing symptoms of mental retardation. The Australias Northern Territory approved a Euthanasia Bill in 1995 but was overturned by Australian Parliament in 1997. The U.S. State of Oregon legalized assisted Suicide in 1998, followed by The Netherlands in 2000, Belgium in 2002 and the state of Washington in 2008. This research shall also discuss the status of Euthanasia in the Philippines, the laws prohibiting it, why it is prohibited, why it is unacceptable to the Filipinos, and why should it be legalized in the Philippines. At present Euthanasia is illegal in the Philippines, it is punishable as the crime of Giving assistance to Suicide under Article 253 of the Revised Penal Code and in some cases classified as Murder under article 248 of the same code, depending on the elements present.

Topic Outline: I. Introduction a. Euthanasia Defined b. History of Euthanasia c. Facts about Euthanasia d. Forms of Euthanasia e. Euthanasia at Present II. Medical Basis a. Medical Reason for Euthanasia b. Physician-Assisted-Dying c. Physician Sentiment III. a. Legal Basis Countries that legalized Euthanasia 1. The Netherlands 2. The United States of America 3. Australia 4. Canada 5. India 6. New Zealand 7. Switzerland 8. United Kingdom 9. Mexico c. Euthanasia in the Philippines IV. V. Pros and Cons of Euthanasia Why should Euthanasia be Legalized in the Philippines b. Foreign Jurisdictions and Court Cases

Research Methodology A. References: a. Philippine Constitution b. Revised Penal Code c. Supreme Court of the United States of America website d. SCRA e. Philippine Reports f. Law Books g. Medical Books

B. Key Words a. Euthanasia b. Suicide c. Physician-Aided-Dying d. Assisted Suicide e. Lethal Injection f. Terminally Ill

C. Electronic and Print Materials a. b. Philippine Laws Foreign Laws

c. Medical Articles d. Legal Articles e. Foreign Cases f. Local Cases