Starter quiz
- Which law legalised abortion in the UK under certain conditions?
- The Human Rights Act 1998
- The Abortion Act 1967 ✓
- The Equality Act 2010
- The Offences Against the Person Act 1861
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- Many people with a non-religious worldview are known as ______. Most believe a woman has the right to choose abortion.
- 'humanists' ✓
- Which of the following is a key argument used by pro-life supporters?
- The foetus has intrinsic value and a right to life. ✓
- Women should have full control over their own bodies.
- Abortion should be available on demand at any stage of pregnancy.
- The law should not be involved in personal medical decisions.
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- According to the 1967 Abortion Act, what is the legal time limit for most abortions in the UK?
- 12 weeks
- 20 weeks
- 24 weeks ✓
- No time limit
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- Which Christian teaching is often used to oppose abortion?
- “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39)
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5) ✓
- “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9)
- “Do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34)
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- Which Christian denomination is most likely to support abortion in some circumstances using situation ethics?
- The Catholic Church
- Evangelical Christians
- Anglicans and Methodists ✓
- Orthodox Christians
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Exit quiz
- Match the following terms with their correct definitions:
- voluntary euthanasia⇔when a person requests to end their life to relieve suffering ✓
- non-voluntary euthanasia⇔when a person is unable to consent, and someone else decides ✓
- active euthanasia⇔when a deliberate action is taken to cause death ✓
- passive euthanasia⇔when life-sustaining treatment is withheld or withdrawn ✓
- In the UK, active euthanasia is ______, but withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in some cases is allowed.
- 'illegal' ✓
- Which of the following is an argument in favour of legalising euthanasia?
- All suffering has value and should be endured.
- People should be able to choose to die rather than suffer. ✓
- Euthanasia is already legal in all countries.
- Doctors should never be involved in ending a life.
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- What is a key argument against legalising euthanasia?
- It allows people to make their own choices.
- It could pressure vulnerable individuals into choosing death. ✓
- It helps people maintain dignity at the end of life.
- It is already legal everywhere in Europe.
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- Which of the following best describes assisted suicide?
- a person directly ending someone’s life to relieve suffering
- providing someone with the means to end their own life ✓
- withdrawing treatment from a terminally ill person
- giving a lethal injection to a patient in a coma
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- Which organisation is Humanist and campaigns for the legalisation of assisted dying in the UK?
- Care Not Killing
- Dignity in Dying ✓
- Hospice UK
- British Medical Association
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Euthanasia ends life to relieve suffering, either voluntary or non-voluntary, and active or passive.
- Assisted suicide involves helping someone end their life, with the person administering the lethal dose.
- In the UK, active euthanasia is illegal, assisted suicide is punishable, but withdrawing treatment can be legal.
- Opponents argue life has intrinsic value, suffering has meaning, and legalisation may pressure vulnerable people.
- Supporters argue it respects autonomy, allowing people to end suffering with dignity.
Common misconception
Those with non-religious views, such as Humanists, always support euthanasia.
Many Humanists advocate for the right to die (e.g., ‘Dignity in Dying’), but some oppose it due to concerns about coercion, vulnerable people, or better alternatives like palliative care.
Keywords
Assisted dying - helping someone end their life, often through euthanasia or assisted suicide
Assisted suicide - providing someone with the means to end their life due to terminal illness or severe suffering
Euthanasia - intentionally ending a person's life to relieve suffering, either by causing death or allowing it to occur
Palliative care - medical care that focuses on providing relief from pain aiming to improve the quality of life for patients
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