Answer Key: Assisted Dying

Lesson Plan: Death With Dignity: A  Basic Human Right

II. While Reading Activities

Vocabulary

Word Inference

  1.  terminally |ˈtərmənl| adjective- (of a disease) predicted to lead to death, esp. slowly; incurable: terminal cancer.
  2. banned |ban| verb ( bans, banning , banned ) [ with obj. ] officially or legally prohibit: he was banned from driving for a year | a proposal to ban all trade in ivory.
  3. advocates |ˈadvəkit| noun- a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy: he was an untiring advocate of economic reform.
  4. lethal  |ˈlēTHəl| adjective-sufficient to cause death: a lethal cocktail of alcohol and pills.
  5. dignified  |ˈdigniˌfīd|  adjective-having or showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect: she maintained a dignified silence | a dignified old lady.
  6. imminent |ˈimənənt| adjective-about to happen: they were in imminent danger of being swept away.
  7. garrulous |ˈgar(y)ələs| adjective-excessively talkative, esp. on trivial matters: Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man.
  8.  endure |enˈd(y)o͝or| verb-[ with obj. ] suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently: it seemed impossible that anyone could endure such pain.
  9. frustrated |ˈfrəsˌtrātid| adjective-feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, esp. because of inability to change or achieve something: young people get frustrated with the system.
  10. hospice ˈhäspis| noun-a home providing care for the sick, esp. the terminally ill.

Reading Comprehension

True /False/NA-Statements

  1. T-Public support for assisted dying has grown in the past half-century but depends in part on terminology.
  2. F-Recent polls have shown that people prefer the phrase “end the patient’s life by some painless means.”
  3. T-About 3,000 patients a year, from every state, contact the advocacy group Compassion & Choices for advice on legal ways to reduce end-of-life suffering.
  4. F-Overt assistance to bring on death, by whatever name, remains illegal in most of the country.
  5. T- One method for some is to simply halt vital treatments, such as dialysis or insulin.
  6. F- Research in Oregon indicates that for many patients, just knowing the option is there has proved a great comfort.
  7. F- Mr. Mitton is an unusual case because he is refusing a potentially lifesaving procedure that would be covered by public insurance.
  8. F-Mr. Mitton’s doctors at the Denver Health Medical Center say he will probably die within six months.
  9. NA-There are three other cases similar to Mr. Mitton’s case.
  10. T-Mr. Mitton is exploring the international underground market for pentobarbital, a drug used in executions and animal euthanasia.

 Grammar Focus

Structure and Usage

I-a-Helping the terminally ill end their lives is gaining traction.

II-a-Public support for assisted dying has grown in the past half-century.

III-a-This should be a basic human right.

IV. Listening Activity   

Video Clip:  New Mexico Judge Says Doctors Can Aid In Dying

While Listening Tasks

True /False/NA-Statements

  1. F- The  case discussed was started by 2 doctors from Oregon.
  2. F- To be eligible for the assisted dying program the patient has to be terminally ill and mentally competent.
  3. T- The patient’s family, friends, and physician can assist them in dying.
  4. T- New Mexico is the fifth state to allow doctors to assist patients in dying.
  5. F- The issue draws criticism from religious groups.
  6. T- Another criticism of the program is that and poor or weak patients can be pressured to end their lives early.
  7. T- Aja Riggs stated that if her cancer returns she wants the option to die peacefully at home.
  8. F-The  term “assisted suicide” is different from “aid in dying”.
  9. T- The states of Oregon, Washington Vermont and hawaii already have laws in place allowing aid in dying.
  10. T- Oregon has had the law the longest since 1997.