Name: ______________________________________________

Period: ______

Due date: ___________________

Close Reading: Informational Piece about Euthanasia

DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage. While reading, underline, summarize, label, define, question and record
inferences and other literary devices in the margins. Then, answer the questions on the reverse side completely.
The word euthanasia comes from the Greek language. It means good death. Sometimes people use the term mercy
killing when talking about euthanasia. Euthanasia or mercy killing is the practice of deliberately ending the life of a
person, often terminally ill, before their natural death occurs. There are two types of euthanasia:
A. Active or Voluntary Euthanasia: A terminally ill patient is given medicine that will kill him/her, usually by a doctor.
Death quickly follows once the drug has been given. The patients themselves or their legal representative must request this
type of euthanasia.
B. Passive Euthanasia: Treatment or medicines needed to keep a patient alive are not given and the patient dies as a
result. Sometimes a patient is being kept alive by machines. Examples of passive euthanasia would be turning off a
machine that is breathing for a patient or removing a feeding tube from a patient who can no longer eat.
There is an alternative to euthanasia called Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). In PAS the doctor participates by
prescribing the necessary drug or combination of drugs that would cause death. The patient is required to give himself or
herself the prescribed medicine that will end his/her life.
Euthanasia is a Controversial Subject
The practices of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are highly controversial subjects for people around the world.
Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands have all legalized some forms of active and passive euthanasia as well as PAS. In
the United States, euthanasia remains illegal. However, the states of Oregon and Washington have legalized physicianassisted suicide.
The euthanasia debate is often heated, with people from all religions and walks of life actively participating. Today medical
research and advancements in technology allow us to live longer. Our doctors can prolong the life of a terminally ill patient
by using machines and new drugs. For the patient, this may or may not be beneficial.
Pros
Pro-euthanasia arguments include:

Every person has the right to live and die with dignity

Pain and suffering, both emotionally and physically, will be lessened when life is not
artificially prolonged

Each individual should have the right to decide when their own life will end

The quality of a life is as important as the length of a life

Cons
Anti-euthanasia arguments include:

Doctors have taken an oath (the Hippocratic oath) that forbids killing

Personal religious beliefs that conflict with the practice of euthanasia and physician
assisted suicide

Sometimes it isnt clear if the patient really understands the choice they or their legal
representative is making to end their life

Legalizing euthanasia for terminally ill patients could quickly lead to a more widespread
use of the practice

Read all parts of the question first to make sure you are answering the questions completely!

1. What is the STRONGEST argument FOR euthanasia? Cite evidence and explain why it is the strongest.

1. What is the STRONGEST argument AGAINST euthanasia? Cite evidence and explain why it is the strongest.

1. Which type of euthanasia is most like the Ceremony of Release in The Giver? Use evidence from The Giver (with
page numbers!) to support your answer. (RAISE response!)