Introduction

Law presents many problems mostly because it often comes into contradiction with morality. One of the most complex problems arising from conflict between law and morality is euthanasia.

Your task consists in exploring different kinds of online resources in order to debate the question of euthanasia. You are to be divided into four groups each of which will develop its own point of view and will become an expert in its field.

After the members of each group study the online materials you will organize a debate and acquaint the others with your arguments. While you work at your proofs don’t forget to copy the URLs of the sites which could help you or to print out the necessary extracts.

The Quest

What is your opinion about euthanasia? Has your point of view been changed in any way after you listened the members of the other groups? What could be your suggestions about euthanasia regulation? Is it the question of the World Community or a separate country or is it a personal issue?

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about Right to DIe. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Before being divided into teams with different fields of exploration you can get some background knowledge on the topic. Be free to look all the links to learn more about the right to die. Try to make a general report about the situation.


Use the online materials to answer the following questions:
1. Could you give a definition of euthanasia?
2. What types of euthanasia are distinguished?
3. Who is the most famous assistant in suicides?
4. What spheres do problems connected with euthanasia arise in?
5. Who are the opponents/proponents of euthanasia? What arguments do they use?
6. What ethical aspects of euthanasia deserve consideration?
Be creative in exploring the information and try to answer the stated questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

Euthanasia suicide mercy-killing right-to-die physician assisted ...
(www.euthanasia.com/page6.html)
CARE Briefing on BMA Debate on Physician Assisted Suicide
(www.care.org.uk/resource/docs/suicide.htm)
The Ethics of Euthanasia
(www.quantonics.com/ The_Ethics_of_Euthanasia_By_Garn_LeBaron.html)
Links: Death With Dignity Articles & Materials
(www.worldrtd.org/DWDarticles.html)
EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE: ALL SIDES
(www.religioustolerance.org/euth2.htm)

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.Imagine you are a faithful representative of your team and try to develop a common line of proof supplemented with references to the online materials. Try to make a logical step-by-step representation of the opinion in such a way that any member of the group can speak on a certain chosen aspect (for example, necessity of composing a living will from the legal point of view), on the one hand, and can answer the questions of the whole class addressed to your group, on the other hand.

5. One peculiarity about this Webquest is that there could be proponents and opponents of euthanasia within one and the same group. Try to make a deep comprehensive report on your turn for others to understand you are an experienced person. Exchange the information with the other groups if you consider it to be appropriate for them.

Medical Specialist

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Medical Specialist:

1. Do you remember that beginning the practice doctors swear to save other people’s lives? Does the wish of some medical specialists to assist in suicide contradict this oath?
2. What arguments are used by the doctors who are for/against euthanasia?
3. Are there different ways of deprivation of a life (in case of euthanasia)? What are the grounds of differentiation?
4. Are there any medical explanations to the problem? Could you prove the words of some American doctors that the situation in American medicine is what it has deserved? Does it mean that euthanasia is inevitable in the USA?

Euthanasia In The USA - RoevWade Revisited? [L&S 06/95]
(http://www.care.org.uk/resource/ls/ls950606.htm)
Fact sheets about euthanasia & assisted suicide
(http://www.worldrtd.org/SMfactsheets.html)
British Medical Assoc. Policy on Euthanasia
(http://www.worldrtd.org/BMAeuthanasia.html)
http://www.euthanasia.com/page2.html
http://www.finalexit.org/
http://www.euthanasia.com/start.html

Lawyer

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Lawyer:

1. What is the connection of euthanasia to different torts and crimes?
2. Try to find out the most substantial legislation on euthanasia.
3. Does the decision of a judge as for euthanasia depend on circumstances? Specify your opinion exemplifying it with real cases.
4. What controversial problems arise during the discussion of euthanasia legislation?
5. What aspects of euthanasia have been successfully fixed in legislation? Could you point out their sources?

http://www.euthanasia.com/page3.html
http://www.actrtla.org.au/euth/bookeu/smith.htm
www.apfn.net/messageboard/10-26-03/10-26-03.htm

Ordinary Citizen

Each member of this group is to develop his own point of view by choice of the arguments close to his heart. But everyone should have a priority in this or that field, for example, an ordinary citizen can look at the problem of euthanasia from religious point of view or he or she can choose this or that party (that of opponents or proponents) due to the personal experience (true to life situations which were connected with his or her relatives or friends). Use the online information linked below to define the opinion of an ordinary citizen to the problem:

http://www.revision-notes.co.uk/revision/794.html
http://www3.telus.net/public/baj6/Euthanasia.html
http://yougotthepoint.online.fr/euthanasia.htm
http://www.donoharm.org.uk/alert/

Journalist

The characteristic feature of your group arguments is that it’s very difficult for you to come at the consensus as you are neither specialists in the field nor witnesses to the “crime” but you know more than anybody else as you are able to gather a lot of material. Even not true to life stories seem vivid in the mouths of the journalists. Try not to lose the reputation!
Use the online information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to journalists.
1. Could you give an example of euthanasia?
2. Is the problem of euthanasia vital only to the US?
3. Try to explore any side of the problem which you consider to be of the utmost importance.

Euthanasia debate renewed - The Washington Times: World Briefings
(washingtontimes.com/world/20031026-105103-9731r.htm)
http://www.schreeuwomleven.nl/Euthanasia/Index.htm
http://www.euthanasia.com/index.html

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of Right to DIe. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with. As you can remember there could be opponents and proponents of euthanasia in one team. Be ready to ask questions in the field you become interested in (especially if you are a journalist). You must now answer the Webquest Question using the arguments proving your point of view. Make references every time you use information from the Net (to show that your opinion is shared by other people). Having considered all the arguments try to reach consensus and decide if you are for or against euthanasia.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Apply to http://www.euthanasia.com/index.html to write a letter
OTHER CONTACTS
• Pro-Life Organizations
• Donations
• Contact Your U.S. House of Representatives member
• Contact Your U.S. Senator
• Send Letters to the Editors of Newspapers

Your Contact is: the designated contact

Conclusion

Having looked behind have you come at an opinion if euthanasia is necessary; if it can be regulated by legislature, if it is an issue which deserves consideration? Having been touched by one of the contradictions of law and morality would it be interesting for you to explore some other debatable issues such as death penalty, for example. If you are concerned the Internet can become a great source of information for you but be careful: keep in mind that online materials are often made by individuals who want to popularize their point of view.