Learning Objective: This is a news class. At the end of the session, the participants are expected to be able to summarize and criticize the topic and the issue of euthanisia. Moreover, they are expected to be able to develop critical thinking skills as we proceed with the discussion.


The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a doctor convicted of killing a comatose patient in 1998, sources said Wednesday.

The decision by the top court's Third Petty Bench finalizes the Tokyo High Court ruling that sentenced Setsuko Suda, 55, to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years.

Suda was convicted of pulling out a tube securing the airway of a 58-year-old comatose patient at a hospital in Kawasaki at the family's request, according to the sources.

Mutsuo Tahara, the presiding justice in the case, said Suda's conduct did not constitute the termination of treatment permissible under law, they said.

Tahara said Suda did not perform the necessary tests to see whether the patient was really unrecoverable.

Suda cited the family's request in seeking to overturn her conviction.

But Tahara said the doctor did not sufficiently inform the family and the court did not see any presumption of the patient's will.

The decision is the first Supreme Court ruling on whether it is legal for a doctor to halt treatment prolonging the life of a terminally ill patient.

The decision, dated Monday and made by a consensus of all five justices on the bench, did not mention any conditions for a doctor to be excused, the sources said.


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In Depth


What is the news all about? Could you summarize it?

What is Euthanasia (Physician Assisted Suicide/ Mercy Killing)?

When and under what circumstances or grounds should it be allowed?

Or should it really be allowed/ legalized anyway?

Are you in favor of it or not?

Do you have any related story/stories to this topic/ issue? Would you share them to the group?