法律英语(刑法)

Euthanasia――曹美英李珊珊孔阳刘荟刘婷吴永生熊兆锋王庆选徐家文沈乐1234567Ⅰ.WhatisEuthanasiaⅢ.EuthanasiaandCriminalLawⅣ.TheTypesofEuthanasiaⅤ.IssuesofEuthanasiaⅥ.OpinionsⅡ.TheSituationⅦ.SummaryContentⅠ.WhatisEuthanasiaPalliativecareisspecialisedcareandsupportprovidedforsomeonelivingwithaterminalillness〔晚期病症〕.Importantly,palliativecarealsoinvolvescareandsupportforfamilyandcaregivers〔护理者〕.Thegoalofpalliativecareistoimprovequalityoflifeforpatients,theirfamiliesandcaregiversbyprovidingcarethataddresses〔满足需求〕themanyneedspatients,familiesandcaregivershave:physical(includingtreatmentofpainandothersymptoms),emotional,social,culturalandspiritual.Palliativecareaimstohelpthepatientliveaswellaspossible.1.Whatispalliativecare?

Palliativecareofferssupporttohelpfamilyandcaregiversmanageduringthepatient’sillnessandinbereavement(亲人丧亡).Asapersonreceivingpalliativecare,thepatientisanimportantpartnerinplanningtheircareandmanagingtheirillness.Whenpeoplearewellinformed,participateintreatmentdecisionsandcommunicateopenlywiththeirdoctorsandotherhealthprofessionals,theyhelpmaketheircareaseffectiveaspossible.Careplanningisanimportantprocessinensuringthepatient’swishes,inrelationtotheircare,aremet.Patientsshouldspeaktotheirdoctoraboutadvancecareplanningandadvancecaredirectives.2.Whatisagooddeath?

InaGalluppollinAmerica,morethan70%ofindividualssurveyedfeareddyinginpainoralonewithoutthechancetosaygood-bye.Twelveprinciplestoknowwhendeathiscoming,andtounderstandwhatcanbeexpectedtobeabletoretaincontrolofwhathappenstobeaffordeddignityandprivacytohavecontroloverpainreliefandothersymptomcontroltohavechoiceandcontroloverwheredeathoccurs(athomeorelsewhere)tohaveaccesstoinformationandexpertiseofwhateverkindisnecessarytohaveaccesstoanyspiritualoremotionalsupportrequiredtohaveaccesstohospicecareinanylocation,notonlyinhospitaltohavecontroloverwhoispresentandwhosharestheendtobeabletoissueadvancedirectiveswhichensurewishesarerespectedtohavetimetosaygoodbye,andcontroloverotheraspectsoftimingtobeabletoleavewhenitistimetogo,andnottohavelifeprolongedpointlessly3.WhatisEuthanasia?

Euthanasiaistheterminationofaverysickperson'slifeinordertorelievethemoftheirsuffering.Apersonwhoundergoeseuthanasiausuallyhasanincurablecondition.Butthereareotherinstanceswheresomepeoplewanttheirlifetobeended.Inmanycases,itiscarriedoutattheperson'srequestbuttherearetimeswhentheymaybetooillandthedecisionismadebyrelatives,medics〔医护人员〕or,insomeinstances,thecourts.ThetermisderivedfromtheGreekwordeuthanatoswhichmeanseasydeath.Ⅱ.TheSituationTheNetherlandsisthefirstcountryintheworldwhereeuthanasiaislegal.Sometwentyyearsago,peopleintheNetherlands,well-intentionedphysiciansamongthem,beganaprocessthathasmadephysician-assistedsuicideandeuthanasiacommonpracticetheretoday.IntheNetherlands,inApril2001,alawwaspassedthatallowsphysicianstoperformeuthanasiabutonlywhenthepatienthasexpressedexplicitlythedesiretodieinordertopreventorendunacceptablesuffer.Additionally,thephysicianmustalsoagreewiththepatientthathesuffersunacceptablyandcanonlyco-operatewhenheorshehasconsultedtwocolleagueswhoagreethateuthanasiaisacceptableinthegivencaseandunderthegivencircumstances.Givenalltheseconditions,thephysicianneedsthesubstanceswithwhichhecanhelpthepatient.Netherlands1.Thepatientmustbeexperiencingunbearablepain.2.Thepatientmustbeconscious.3.Thedeathrequestmustbevoluntary.4.Thepatientmusthavebeengivenalternativestoeuthanasiaandtimetoconsiderthesealternatives.5.Theremustbenootherreasonablesolutionstotheproblem.6.Thepatient’sdeathcannotinflictunnecessarysufferingonothers.7.Theremustbemorethanonepersoninvolvedintheeuthanasiadecision.8.Onlyadoctorcaneuthanizeapatient.9.Greatcaremustbetakeninactuallymakingthedeathdecision.TheBelgianActonEuthanasiacameintoforceon23September2002,makingBelgiumthesecondcountrytoalloweuthanasiaundercertaindue-careconditions.Sweden

ThelegalpositioninSwedenconcerningeuthanasiaisthatactiveeuthanasiaisillegalandregardedasmurder.Incertainconditions,however,itcangetalenientpunishmentorgowithoutpunishmentaltogether.Accelerationofdeathbypainalleviatingmethodsisillegalifitacceleratesdeathmorethanisnecessarytoalleviatepain.Passiveeuthanasiaintheformofforbearancetoinitiatelife-sustainingtreatmentinahopelesscaseislegal.Ifsuchtreatmenthasbeeninitiated,itoughttobelegaltodiscontinueit,whenthereisnohopeofrecoveryanddeathseemsimminent.BesidesSweden,thereareabouttencountriesinEuropeallowpassiveeuthanasia,IncludingAustria,Denmark,France,Germany,Hungary,Norway,Slovakia,SpainandSwitzerland.TheUSTheUShasaspottedhistoryoflawreformonvoluntaryeuthanasiaandphysician-assisteddying.TherearenowthreestateswithDeathwithDignitylaws-Oregon,WashingtonandMontana.OregonwasthefirststatetopassaDeathWithDignity(DWD)Actwhichitdidin1994afteraCitizenInitiatedReferendum(公投).TheseDeathWithDignityActsallowpeoplewhoareterminallyorhopelesslyilltoasktheirdoctorsforlethalmedication.Patientsmustmaketwoverbalrequestsandonewrittenrequestthatisfullywitnessed.Twodoctorsmustagreeonthepatient’s‘diagnosis,prognosisandthepatient'scapability’.Thepatientmustadministerthelethalmedicationthemselves.China

ThereisnolawaboutusingeuthanasiainChina.Doctorsandfamilymemberswhohelpthepatientstomaketheeuthanasiahappenareguiltyofmurderunderpresentlaws.Thereisasurveyabout800terminalcancerpatients.Theresultis30%patientswanttouseeuthanasia.However,legalizationofeuthanasiawillinvolvemanyquestions,suchasmoralprinciples,ethicsandthequalityofcitizens.So,itisstillprematuretopassalawoneuthanasiainChina.Thispartjusttalkabouttherelationshipbetweeneuthanasiaandcriminallaw.Thentrytofindsomereasonableexplanation.Ⅲ.EuthanasiaandCriminalLaw1.Thegeneralprovisionsofthecriminallaw〔刑法总那么〕andeuthanasia(1)Thefundamentalprincipleofcriminallawandeuthanasiaandeuthanasia.theprincipleoflegallyprescribedpunishmentforaspecifiedcrime(罪刑法定原那么〕tellusthateuthanasiaconstitutedthecrimeisinappropriate.Becausethereisnodirectnormswecouldfindinthecriminallaw.(2)TheBasiccharacteristicsofcrime.

crime

SocialharmfulnessDisapprobationpossibility(非难可能性〕Comparedwithothermajorcrime，euthanasiahaslesssocialharmfulness.(3)ThepurposeofthecriminallawLegalinterestprotection(保护法益〕isthemainpurposeofthecriminallaw.Tosomepoint,euthanasiaindeedviolated(侵犯)theinterestsoftheparty.Themosttypicalistheinterestoflifeandhealth.Andresultinginapossibleconsequences:

Ifweallowthishappenwithnocontraint,itmustbemoreandmorepeopleabusetheeuthanasiatoviolatedtheinterestsoftheparty.Fromthisperspective,criminallawshouldbegivenprotection.(4)Criminallawinterpretations(刑法解释〕andEuthanasiaEvenifeuthanasiaconstitutedthecrime，weneedtosolveamoreharderproblem：whatiseuthanasia？Haveacleardefinitionistherequirementofcivillaw〔大陆法〕.Butthedefinitionofeuthanasiaisstillcontroversialtoday.〔5〕TheFunctionsofCriminalLaw〔刑法机能〕andEuthanasiaThefunctionsofcriminallawisrefertotheeffectivenessinreality.TheFunctionsofCriminalLaw：1、Behaviorregulationfunction.〔行为规制机能〕2、Legalinterestprotectionfunction.3、Protectionofhumanrightsfunction.SoasaCriminalLaw：Onehand,itshallprotectthelegalinterestandhumanrights.Tothispoint，theCriminalLawcan'tturnablindeyetoeuthanasia.Ontheotherhand,italsoshallregulatethisbehavior.Butfinally，wefindthatitmayharderthandefinitetheeuthanasia.Asaresult，thisproblemleadtheCriminalLawtoadilemma

2.ThespecificprovisionsofcriminallawandeuthanasiaSometimes，euthanasiawillmeetthespecificcrimeconstitutes.Soweshouldanalyzespecificissuestodeterminecharges(确定罪名〕.Forexample：Euthanasiaconstitutedthecrimeofintentionalhomicide〔成心杀人〕.Becauseithasthecriminalintent，andobjectivelyharmfulbehaviorandharmresults.Butifeuthanasiaiscausedbymedicalpersonnelfailseriouslytocarryouttheirresponsibility，itconstitutemedicalmalpractice〔医疗事故罪〕.Ⅳ.TheTypesofEuthanasia

SignificanceofResearch

Asanancienttopic,euthanasiaisstillinagreatcontroversyinpluralisticsociety.Discussingandanalysingthetypeofeuthanasiamayrefineandnarrowthecontroversialfield,andhelptocleartheobjectofeuthanasia,thepurposeofeuthanasia,theimplementationwayofeuthanasiaandeventheessenceofeuthanasiaaswell.1.Thefirstkindofclassification

Accordingtotheapplicablespecificobject,euthanasiacanbedividedintospecialeuthanasiaandgeneralizedeuthanasia.(1)

SpecialEuthanasia

specialeuthanasia:itreferstoawaywhichleadstotherapiddeathwithoutpainforpatientswhosufferterminaldiseaseandinextremepain.(2)

GeneralizedEuthanasia

generalizedeuthanasia:inadditiontoincludingrelevantcontentofspecialeuthanasia,itstillincludestoleadtothedeathwithoutfeelingpainforthesepeople.Theyareinfantswhoareseriousdisabledwhentheywerebirthordementia,someseverepsychotic,severelydisabledpeopleinsocietyandvegetativebeinginnarcose.2.Thesecondkindofclassification(1)VoluntaryEuthanasia:

itreferstocarryouteuthanasiaforpatientswhorequireorhavehaddesire,oragreedtobeeuthanized.(2)InvoluntaryEuthanasia:itgenerallyreferstotakethemeasureofeuthanasia,accordingtohisrelatives‘application,forthoseincapacitatedpatients,namelypatientswhocannotsay“Idemand,desireorconsentofeuthanasia〞,suchasforseverelydeformedbabies,braindeadpatients,comatosepatients,mentalpatientsandpatientswhoseintelligenceisseriouslow.3.Thethirdkindofclassification

Accordingtothedifferentterminalmedicalmeasuresthedoctortakes,euthanasiacanbedividedintoactiveeuthanasiaandpassiveeuthanasia.(1)ActiveEuthanasia

activeeuthanasia,alsobecalledaspositiveeuthanasia,meansthatthemedicalstafftakesomemeasurestohastenterminallydyingpatients’deathprocessinordertorelievetheirsuffering.(2)PassiveEuthanasia

passiveeuthanasia,whichisalsoknownasnegativeeuthanasia,meansthatforforkinganddyingpatients,themedicalpersonnelsuspendcuremeasureswhichhavethefunctionofsustaininglifetoshortenthedurationafterthepatientsintoirreversibledeathprocessforthesakeofrelievingtheirpain.4.Thefourthkindofclassification

Accordingtothedifferentpropertiesanddegreeofdeathpain,alongwithdifferentmethodsanddegreeofeliminatingthepain,euthanasiacanbedividedintotypeAeuthanasia,typeBeuthanasiaandtypeCeuthanasia.(1)TypeAeuthanasiaistoeliminatepainandtreatasusual.(2)TypeBeuthanasiaistoeliminatepainandgiveuptreatment.(3)TypeCeuthanasiareferstoterminatethedeathprocesstorelievepain.Ⅴ.IssuesofEuthanasiaTheissuehasbeenatthecentreofveryheateddebatesformanyyearsandissurroundedbyreligious,ethical,practicalconsiderationsandsoon.1.ThelegalpositionEuthanasiaisillegalinmostcountries,althoughdoctorsdosometimescarryouteuthanasiaevenwhereitisillegal.EuthanasiaisillegalinBritain.Tokillanotherpersondeliberatelyismurderormanslaughter,eveniftheotherpersonasksyoutokillthem.Anyonedoingsocouldpotentiallyface14yearsinprison.Underthe1961SuicideAct,itisalsoacriminaloffenceinBritain,punishableby14years'imprisonment,toassist,aidorcounselsomebodyinrelationtotakingtheirownlife.Nevertheless,theauthoritiesmaydecidenottoprosecuteincasesofeuthanasiaaftertakingintoaccountthecircumstancesofthedeath.InSeptember2021theDirectorofPublicProsecutionswasforcedbyanappealtotheHouseofLordstomakepublicthecriteriathatinfluencewhetherapersonisprosecuted.Thefactorsputalargeemphasisonthesuspectknowingthepersonwhodiedandonthedeathbeingaone-offoccurrenceinordertoavoidaprosecution.2.Theethicsofeuthanasia

isiteverrighttoendthelifeofaterminallyillpatient

whoisundergoingseverepainandsuffering?underwhatcircumstancescaneuthanasiabejustifiable,ifatall?isthereamoraldifferencebetweenkillingsomeoneandlettingthemdie?Attheheartoftheseargumentsarethedifferentideasthatpeoplehaveaboutthemeaningandvalueofhumanexistence.Shouldhumanbeingshavetherighttodecideonissuesoflifeanddeath?3.practicalissues

Somepeoplethinkthateuthanasiashouldn'tbeallowed,evenifitwasmorallyright,becauseitcouldbeabusedandusedasacover〔幌子，伪装〕formurder.KillingorlettingdieEuthanasiacanbecarriedouteitherbytakingactions,includinggivingalethalinjection,orbynotdoingwhatisnecessarytokeepapersonalive(suchasfailingtokeeptheirfeedingtube〔喂食管〕going).'Extraordinary'medicalcareItisnoteuthanasiaifapatientdiesasaresultofrefusingextraordinaryorburdensomemedicaltreatment〔特殊或繁重的药物治疗〕4.ReligionsissuesDeathisoneofthemostimportantthingsthatreligionsdealwith.Allfaithsoffermeaningandexplanationsfordeathanddying;allfaithstrytofindaplacefordeathanddyingwithinhumanexperience.Forthoseleftbehindwhensomeonediesreligionsprovideritualstomarkdeath,andceremoniestorememberthosewhohavedied.Religionsprovideunderstandingandcomfortforthosewhoarefacingdeath.Religionsregardunderstandingdeathanddyingasvitaltofindingmeaninginhumanlife.Dyingisoftenseenasanoccasionforgettingpowerfulspiritualinsightsaswellasforpreparingforwhateverafterlifemaybetocome.Soit'snotsurprisingthatallfaithshavestrongviewsoneuthanasia.Ⅵ.Opinions1.Infavorofeuthanasia

LegalizationofEuthanasiaBenefits

2134reducethepainofpatientsreducetheburdenofthefamilyreducetheburdenofthesociety.promotethedevelopmentofthemedicaltreatmentStillaliveordiedwitheuthanasiaPollsofeuthanasiaAgreeObJectNeutral24％31％45％Nowwecandemonstratedthelegalizationofeuthanasiafromhumannatureandlivingreality:Theformationoftheconceptofhumanrightsisbasedonouremotion.NowIwillsharetwoproverbswithyou.First,“Expendtherespectoftheagedinone’sfamilytothatofotherfamilies;expendtheloveoftheyoungonesinone’sfamilytothatofotherfamilies.〞(老吾老，以及人之老；幼吾幼，以及人之幼)Second,Neverimposeyourbeliefsonanyoneelse(己所不欲，勿施于人)Thesethoughtscontainthehumanitytothesimilarinstinctivelyemotionrecognitionandrespect.Itisthesublimationofhumanidentityproducedconsciousnessofhumanrights.Itisalsoforthesensethatmadeeuthanasiahasawiderangeofsocialfoundation.Implementationeuthanasiacanreducemedicalburdenandmakethepatientsandtheirrelativesfree.ThevoicesofthepatientsRecentyears,alloverthecountrymadevariouspollsabouteuthanasia.Accordingtostatistics,inBeijing,Shanghai,Heilongjiang,morethan80%oftherespondentsareinfavorofeuthanasia.Andinsomeothercountries,theconsequenceevenachieve90%.“Thepeacefuldeathwasinferiorthatisbarelyexisting〞isnolongertheprincipleofsurvival.Thelegalizationofeuthanasia,itisthecommonaspirationofthepeople,isinfavorwiththepublic.First,confirmthelegalizationofeuthanasia,canreducethepainofpatients.

Accordingtotheministryofhealthofthenationalpopulationandtherelevantstatistics,eachyearinourcountrythenumberofpeoplekilledisnearly10million,amongthemmorethan1millionpeopleisgoneinextremepain.Andquitealotofpeopleamongthevictimshaveaskedforeuthanasia,butbecauseoflegalreason,hewasrejectedandultimatediedwithpain,helpless,regret.Inthiscase,whatiseuthanasiaconformstothehumanitarian?Orletthediseaseslowlytorture,swallowthepatient'slifemoreaccordwithhumanitarian?Asthehumanitarianareconcerned,lifemustbeprotected,butwhenapersonisonthevergeofdeathandcannotbetreated.Usingofexistingmedicalconditionsandstrongstrugglearefutile.Atthistime,theprotectionoflifehaslostitsanypracticalsignificance.Carryingouteuthanasiaastheywish,itmaintainthedignityofpersonality,reducethepainofpatients,andavoidthefamilymembersandfriendsandrelativeswatchthedeadpatientssufferingtorture.Itpreferdietolivewhenbornwithhopelessness.Second,confirmthelegalizationofeuthanasia,canreducetheburdenofthefamily.

Therelativesofthepatientshavementalresponsibilityandeconomicresponsibilitytothepatients.Inordertobeabletoextendapatient'slife,theyoftenneedtouseexpensivemedicalequipment,paytheheavymaterialprice,whichseverelyreducesthewholefamily'squalityoflife.Thisisexcessiveworthlessrequirements.Atthesametime,euthanasiaisalsobetterforthedeadman'sfamilymembersandrelativesandfriendsrecoveringfromthespiritualpainassoonaspossible.Theycanjoininthenormalstudy,workandlifeforthedemandofsocialdevelopmentquickly.Third,confirmedthelegalizationofeuthanasia,canreducetheburdenofthesociety.

Peopleliveinsociety,itisthesocietywhichfinallybeartheliabilityofpatient.Societyhavetheobligationtodistributioncorrespondingresourcestosolveproblems,butthereisnoneedtokeepitsconsumptioninmaintainingthemeaninglessoflife.Atpresent,inChinatherearealotofpoorareaslackingofmedicaltreatment,someoneoftendiedorgotdeformityfornotgetgoodtreatment.So,inlimitedhealthresourcesociety,itshouldbeputtosavethesignificancepatients.Forth,confirmedthelegalizationofeuthanasia,canpromotethedevelopmentofthemedicaltreatment.

Carryingouteuthanasiaforthosewithincurabledisease,medicalpersoncanreleasefrommultifariousandunprofitablejob,makemoreenergytoconquerincurablediseases,givebenefitandfreshhopetootherpatients.Especiallyinthepresentarduousmedicalwork,difficultcircumstancesthatthepatienttoseeadoctor,ithasmorerichpracticalmeaning.Inshort,peopleshouldbehavevalue,dignityandhappinessinlife.

Whenaliveisofnovalue,hasbecomeapain,akindofburden,euthanasiaisakindofliberation.Weexpectthedaythateuthanasiabecomelegal.Atthesametimewealsohopelawmakersformulatestandardstrictlawsfromcomprehensiveconsideration,toovercomethenegativeeffectafterthelegalizationofeuthanasiaIchooseeuthanasia!!!Comparison

thecriminalsubstantivecharacteristic

euthanasiaandintentionalhomicide

euthanasiaandsuicideObject(客体)Subjective（主观方面）TheserioussocialharmfulnessCriminalityEuthanasiaIntentionalhomicide

MotivationgoodVicious(恶意的)Implementationofsubject(实施主体)doctoranyoneImplementationofobject（实施对象）thepatientwhoisatdeath’sdooranyoneThebearer’ssubjectivedesire(实施对象的主观愿望)Initiativeandvoluntary;inaclear-mindedheadPassive;notheintentionThewayofbehaviorinakindandpainlesswayundersocialethicalandhumanitarianprinciplesViolenceillegally ImplementationofprocesstheauthorizationofLegalnorminaccordancewithLegalprocedureNothelimitationComparisonEuthanasiaSuicideImplementationofsubjectdoctorhimselfMotivationandreasonphysicalpainmanyindividualreasonsProcedureandrequirementtheauthenticationofLegalnorminaccordancewithLegalprocedurenothelimitationComparisonCONCLUSION:

Euthanasiadoesn’thavecriminality.Theeuthanasiaactorsshouldnotbeconvictedastheintentionalkillers.SoI’mfortheeuthanasia.2.AgainsteuthanasiaPeoplev.Kevorkian1.Citation

248Mich.App.373;639N.W.2d2912.Parties

PeopleoftheStateofMichigan,Plaintiff-AppelleeJackKevorkian,Defendant-Appellant

Peoplev.KevorkianFactsI.overviewThiscaseisaboutdeath;inparticular,thedeathofformerracecardriverThomasYoukinSeptember1998.Youkwasfiftytwoyearsoldandhadamyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS)(肌萎缩侧索硬化〕,alsoknownasLouGehrig‘sdisease〔路格瑞氏症〕.DefendanttwicevideotapedhimselfinteractingwithYouk.Inthefirstvideotape,defendantwenttoYouk'shometodiscusshiscondition.Peoplev.KevorkianInthesecondvideotape,defendantadministeredalethaldrugtoYouk.Defendantlaterwasaguestonthetelevisionnewsshow60Minutes,duringwhichsegmentsfrombothvideotapeswereshown.Thejurysawthevideotapesandthe60Minutesinterviewatdefendant'strial.Nevertheless,defendantattemptedtopersuadethejurynottoconvicthimbecausethemurderhewaschargedwithcommittingwas,inhisview,a“mercykilling.〞

Peoplev.KevorkianII.TheDeathOfThomasYoukA.TheSeptember15,1998,VideotapeOnSeptember15,1998,at9:55p.m.,defendantwenttoYouk’shometodiscussYouk’scondition.Asthevideotapeofthisdiscussionrevealed,defendantstatedthathewasrecordingtheirinteractionin“connectionwitharequestfromThomas[Youk]forhelpin…endinghissuffering.〞Youkthendescribedhiscondition.HerecalledthathissymptomsofALSfirstbecameobvioustohimin1994andthathehadbeenconfinedtoawheelchairsince1997.

Peoplev.KevorkianBySeptember1998,Youksaid,hecouldnotmovehisleftarmorhislegs,hehadminimaluseofhisrightarm,hehaddifficultyswallowingandbreathing,hewasfedthroughatube,andhewasforcedtouseamachinetohelphimbreathe.Youkstatedthat,atthetime,hecouldnotdoanythingforhimself,thathehaddiscussed“hiswishes〞withhismother,brothers,andwife,andthatthey“understandwhy.It'smydecision.〞

Peoplev.KevorkianB.TheSeptember16,1998,VideotapeOnSeptember16,1998,at9:49p.m.,defendantagainvideotapedhimselfandYoukatYouk‘shome.Youkstatedthathe“wantedtogothroughwiththis〞andsignedtheconsentform.DefendantremarkedthathewouldinjectYoukintheveinbecause“it’squicker,〞andstated,“nowI‘mgoingtoputonacardiogramsoweknowwhenyourheartisstopped,okay.〞DefendantestablishedaconnectionbetweenYoukandtheelectrocardiogram.DefendantinjectedYoukwithAnectine〔琥珀酰胆碱〕andSeconal〔西可巴比妥〕beforeinjectingYoukwithpotassiumchloride〔氯化钾〕.Peoplev.Kevorkian

C.CauseOfDeathDr.DragovicfoundthreesignificantdrugsinYouk‘sbodilyfluids.First,YoukhadahighlevelofthebarbiturateSeconal,alsoknownasSecobarbital,inhisblood.Second,Dr.DragovicfoundAnectine,aparalyzingmusclerelaxant,presentinYouk’sbodyinanamountthatcouldhavekilledYoukwithinfivetoeightminutesbycausingbraindeath.However,Dr.Dragovicdeterminedthatitwasthethirddrug,potassiumchloride,thatdefendantinjectedintoYoukthatcausedhisdeath.

Peoplev.KevorkianD.The60MinutesInterviewNewscorrespondentMikeWallaceintervieweddefendantfor60Minutes.Inthefirstclipfromtheinterviewshowntothejury,Wallacestatedattheoutset,``Youkilledhim.''Defendantresponded:“Idid,butitcouldbeManslaughternotMurder.It'snotnecessarilyMurder.Butitdoesn'tbothermewhatyoucallit.Iknowwhatitis.Thiscouldneverbeacrimeinanysocietywhichdeemsitselfenlightened.〞DefendantindicatedthathewasmakinganexampleofYouk.WallacethensuggestedthatYoukwasinitiallyalittlereluctantbecauseYouk“thoughthewasgettingassistedsuicide.〞Defendantrepliedthat“thisisbetterthanassistedsuicide,Iexplainedthattohim.It'sbettercontrol.〞Peoplev.Kevorkian

Defendantthenreturnedtooneofhismainthemes,saying:Ifyoudon'thavelibertyandselfdetermination,yougotnothing.That'swhatthiscountry'sbuiltonandthisistheultimateself-determinationtodeterminewhenandhowyou'regonnadiewhenyou'resuffering.[Wallace]:Andthosewhosaythat[defendant],Dr.Death,isafanatic?[Defendant]:Zealot.No,notif,sure,youtrytotakealibertyawayandIturnfanatic....I'mfightingforme,Mike,me.ThisisarightIwantwhenI,I'm71,I'llbe71.Youdon'tknowwhat'llhappenwhenyougetolder.Imayendupterriblysuffering.IwantsomecolleaguetobefreetocomeandhelpmewhenIsaythetimehascome.That'swhyI'mfightingfor,me.Nowthatsoundsselfish.Andifithelpseverybodyelse,sobeit.Peoplev.Kevorkian4.IssuesDoseKevorkianhasrighttoactiveeuthanasia?5.HoldingNo.

Peoplev.Kevorkian6.Reasoning

RatherthanaskingthecourttoholdthathisactionswerejustifiedunderlegallyacceptabletheoriessuchasaidingYoukinexercisinghisrighttorefusemedicaltreatmentorattemptingtoalleviateYouk’spaininamannerotherthandeathandratherthanaskingthecourttorulethathelegallyassistedinYouk’ssuicide,thedefendanthasspecificallyaskedthecourttolegalizeeuthanasia.

Peoplev.KevorkianThedefendantarguedforthelegalityofeuthanasiaontwoconstitutionalgrounds;however,thecourtthrewoutthedefendant’sNinthAmendmentclaimforfailuretobrieftheissueonappeal.TheFourteenthAmendmentoft