Looking into the Story of Mary Ormerod

Is euthanasia killing or dying?

Mary Ormerod was an 85 year old lady who’d suffered numerous strokes. She was in a nursing home as she was incapable of looking after herself and after some time she ceased to communicate with the outside world. The only way Mrs Ormerod could be kept alive was to be force fed through a syringe. Dr. Ken Taylor and her daughters made the decision to deny her the nutritional substance, Fresubin. The consequence of their actions was that Mrs Ormerod died from starvation in August, 1995, weighing less than 25 kilograms.

Nurses complained about Dr. Taylor’s actions and he was suspended by the General Medical council, the regulatory body for doctors.  In court, Dr. Taylor defended his actions by stating that it was ‘inhumane to keep feeding her and stressful to her family and medical staff.’ He was suspended for 6 months because of his treatment and failure to adhere to advice of other medical professionals.

This backdoor euthanasia is believed to be inhumane as it caused her to die slowly and at a disturbing 25 kilos. Mrs Ormerod died via passive euthanasia, which is agreed by majority that it is better off for the person being euthanised. Even though Dr. Taylor denied Mary Ormerod of nutrition and hydration, it was considered treatment because it was given to Mrs Ormerod in an artificial method.

 

Dr Ken Taylor who made the decision to deny Mary Ormerod of her nutrition supplements

Now you’re aware of this case, I’ll ask again. Is euthanasia killing or dying?

Mary Ormerod was forced to suffer and starve by this form of passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is considered dying while active euthanasia is the widely held idea that it is killing. The point of withholding nutrition treatments from Mrs Ormerod was to ensure she no longer suffered but she suffered even more from the starvation as a result. In an article published by BBC, Pro-life alliance activist, Mike Willis, believed, ‘at the time of the Mrs Ormerod's case it was disgraceful for nutrition and hydration to be regarded as "treatment".’

The media has a large impact on the debate of euthanasia and how people perceive it. It influences our thoughts and feelings on the topic by the way it is portrayed.

References

Not Stated. (2000). Whose Decision is it Anyway?. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/background_briefings/euthanasia/331268.stm. Last accessed 21st May 2012.