The Ethical and Legal Implications Behind the Legalisation of Euthanasia in Uganda.

ABSTRACT. The suggestion that euthanasia should be authorised by law, to a considerable extent raises some plausible moral, ethical, philosophical, and religious issues as well as legal and constitutional questions. In addition, the euthanasia debate has been fueled by a number of social and legal developments. These include the advent of modern medical technology and the availability and use of artificial measure to prolong life. Therefore, this study will examine and analyze all the factors to provide a deeper and more uniform insight into mercy killing, in conjunction with the Ugandan legal system and constitutional dispensation.

Contents

DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................... iv

DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................... v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... vi

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................................... 1

TITLE .................................................................................................................................... 1

THE ETHICAL AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS BEHIND THE LEGALISATION OF EUTHANSIA IN

UGANDA .............................................................................................................................. 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1

1.1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY .................................................................................... 1

1.2.0 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................................. 3

1.3.0 OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................. 4

1.4.0 GENERAL OBJECTIVE .................................................................................................. 4

1.5.0 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 4

1.6.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................... 4

1.7.0 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................. 4

1.8.0 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY .................................................................................... 4

1.9.0 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 5

2.0 A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF EUTHANASIA .................................................................. 5

2.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................ 27

2.2.0 CHAPTER BREAKDOWN ............................................................................................ 28

2.3.0 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................ 29

2.4.0 THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF DEATH ........................................................................... 29

Death at common law ....................................................................................................... 30

2.5.0 THE LEGAL CONCEPT OF EUTHANASIA .................................................................... 32

2.6.0 EMERGING JURISPRUDENCE ON EUTHANASIA ....................................................... 35

CHAPTER 3 ......................................................................................................................... 41

2.8.0 EUTHANASIA IN THE NETHERLANDS ........................................................................ 41

ii

2.9.0 EUTHANASIA IN INDIA .............................................................................................. 44

3.0 EUTHANASIA IN THE USA ............................................................................................ 47

CHAPTER 4 ......................................................................................................................... 58

QUESTIONNAIRE ANALYSIS ............................................................................................... 58

3.3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 58

3.4.0 Sampling Process ...................................................................................................... 59

3.5.0 Data Collection and Findings .................................................................................... 59

3.6.0 Data Presentation and Discussion ........................................................................... 61

3.7.0 Strengths and limitations ......................................................................................... 62

3.8.0 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 62

3.9.0 Declaration of interests ............................................................................................ 63

CHAPTER 5 ......................................................................................................................... 64

4.1.0 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 64

4.2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................... 66

APPENDIX I ........................................................................................................................ 70

SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE ................................................................................................. 70