euthanasia, for some people, is very, very broad, it means a whole bunch of things and some people it means just narrow mercy killing. what i like to do is just when i'm talking to my students, i try to keep it as simp as possle. we have veral different l lvels. at one level u keep theebody alive at all coo. most people would agree that that actually is a violent thing to do. you're causing people to suffer terribly. that's where palliative care, and again just $& to simplify the definition, i just think of palliative care is ow do we providd comfort and pain relief from suffering, right? the second level would be something like allowing natural death and that's where palliative care also comes in very, that where basically we're keeping people comfortable but we're no longer aggressively trying to keep their bodies alive. it's because we know that patient doest want it or because we've run out of our options, ooy? the next vel down i think of is physician suicide differs from mercy killing because it's the patient's decision and mercy killing it's not my decision; it' right. francis

>> euthanasia is when a doctor directly and deliver it leak kills a patient upon his request. -- andiberately kills the patient upon his request. the patient is also able to carry it through by himself with technical means like an infusion controlled by a computer and the eye movements of a completely paralyzed patient. direct killing by physicians is never medically necessary. it varies higher risks. in the netherlands, over 4% there, and also with active euthanasia there are some rare cases where people have been euthanized without ever having asked for it. this cannot happen with assisted suicide. >> i think some people in the netherlands would take issue with that characterization. thank you for sharing your perspective is with us. let's get you an update of some other stories making news around the world. a collision between a passenger train and a heavy goods truck in southern germany has killed two people and left 16 injured. the truck carrying a military -- military supplies was hit at a railroad crossing. investigators are focusing efforts on understanding why the truck was

no state allows youth youth euthanasia euthanasia as you said. california voted in a form of aid in tying, assisted dying. that will take effect from 2016. the right to refuse, every single state authorizes a person's right to refuse in some way, shape or form, but exactly what you said, it's a case by case situation in terms of when that right to refuse is executed >>> let's move to the ethics of the issue to our philosophier. what is the underlying philosophy foundation for right to die and why do most societies oppose it? >> well, first of all, i think olds like to just change the way in which the question is posed. to talk about a right to die is very, very awkward. rights are typically thought to be some kind of protection against the state or other parties infringing on liberty, but i didn't say not as if we have a choice about dying. we're mortal. so to talk about a right to die is odd. so i just want to make that note >>> let me just clarify what i probably should have said is a right to determine the matrimonial home hat which one-- mome

the final form is a more active form of euthanasia, and active euthanasia by someone else is the kindhing that is illegal in all of the united states. and that would be where someone else takes that final act ending the person's life. >> of course in the u.s., oregon, washington and vermont are the only states where physician-assisted suicide is legal, correct? and as you point out, no states approve of euthanasia. and then right to refuse, i suppose is allowed on a case-by-case basis at hospitals around the country? >> that's absolutely right with regard to the right to refuse. no state does allow euthanasia as you said. california very recently voted in a form of aid in dieing, physician-assisted suicide that. will take effect at the beginning of 2016. now, the right to refuse, every single state authorizes a person's right to refuse in some way, shape or form. but exactly what you said, it's a case by case situation in terms of when that right to refuse is executed. >> let's move now to the ethics of the issue you. to our philosopher tonight. professor dire. what is the underlying

. >> unfortunately the fate of these dogs, many of them faced euthanasia in municipal shelters in california. >> reporter: is the city shelters were overcrowded by the small breed dogs. to free up the much needed space in the shelters and to spare the dogs' lives, the wings of rescue plane picked up the pups and brought them to long island. shelter workers transferred the jet lagged dogs on to the animal league's two mobile adoption units. >> then we take them back to north shore where they'll be fed, watered, and rest for the evening. then tomorrow we start up with the grooming, the vetting. >> reporter: the mission now of course is to find loving homes for these new arrivals which and other small breeds. >> we're excited we're starting our season of thanks with this first rescue here tonight. and bringing these hundred dogs in. >> reporter: and there are more on the way. another 250 dogs, cats, kittens, puppies of all shapes and sizes will be here in the next few days from places like georgia, virginia, and tennessee. they'll all be ready for adoption next week. in farmingdale, joe torres,

yeah these tend to be dogs that are increased risk for euthanasia at animal shelters just because they are bouncing off the walls and too energetic and too much dog for most families. >> but for this assignment at a mussel checkpoint on flathead lake, their intensity is essential. >> so when a boat arrives here what happens? >> we bring the dog out on leash...we start at one side of the hitch and we work around the boat the dog will pick areas to sniff and our job as handlers is to pick other areas for the dog to inspect where a mussel might attach. >> using a test sample of crushed, frozen mussels, co-founder of the working dog conservation center, alice whitelaw, demonstrates how a pack member will signal with an alert if she does find a mussel. >> show me... she's right! good girl. >> she found it! >> good girl. >> despite all of the technology and innovations used by biologists in conservation around the world to detect animals nothing is less expensive or better than what mother nature has already provided in the form of a dogs nose. >> that's because a dog's nose has about 300 mi

we'll show you a program solving two needs by matching dogs with euthanasia, with war veterans. >> the in soccer are due to heading the ball. >> up first, new rules for children's soccer, and it is a big change. this pais pure perfection,ncakes pleasing my palette like a pro-level pumpkin pancake pecan pie party... ...and the price, perfectly puny. denny's new pumpkin pecan pie pancakes just 4.99. denny's. welcome to america's diner. >>> there are new worries about a common play in soccer. tonight there is a new policy, banning headers for players. the u.s. soccer association is banning players under 11 from heading the ball. the attempt is to reduce the number of concussions. heather holmes says these changes came after a lawsuit was filed. >> reporter: yeah, frank, this lawsuit demanded action after 50,000 concussions were reported among high school soccer players in 2010. that suit says that is more than in baseball, basketball, soccer, and wrestling combined. this policy will indeed change the way the game is played on soccer fields across the bay area. at youth soccer practice in

. >>> these dogs and cats were facing euthanasia just days ago.ow they are bound for pacific northwest and as farrah away as tennessee. non-profit wings of rescue transports california's overcrowded, to several times a week. but this holiday, air lift, of more than 1,000 animals on two dozen planes, it is a record for them. >>> rescue dogs myself i have three, and i just, value, the adoption process, just being able to help with the flying part and be a able to get home, it is a great decision. >> animals find new families within two weeks and that would be just in time for the holidays. >> bravo, indeed. that is fantastic. >>> word on the street that is santa claus has come to peddler's village taking a break from the north pole and just a bit we will be light ago a tree to ring in the holidays. >> meteorologist kate bilo is right there, kate, how is it going ? >> it is going great, guys. i think i heard jiggling of reindeer bells a little bit ago, i think santa may be having his hot chocolate gearing up, ready to get out here. >>> and, here, and

. >> some leading scientists say we have to have euthanasia. oh, no. oh, no.a person is going to die? we must never allow that. because this is the kind of thing that ushers in the terror of a hitler's germany. we must not allow these kind of things to enter our consciousness. >> i wanted to write a story about this guy and his power an the reach he had. so i began to contact ex members and they said all is not so good inside. that there were beatings if you got out of line. there was a lot of the sex abuse. and the story took on a new life at that point. very soon afterwards, the church members began leaving san francisco for guyana. >> he figures if i'm in guyana, it really doesn't matter what's sewed or written, nobody's going to get me here. ♪ we are a happy family we are a happy family yes we are ♪ >> it was an escapade almost unparalleled in the history of religious movements. they had very little communication with loved ones at home. and naturally there was concern about where they had gone and what was happening out there in the jungle. >> i think jim

these dogs, many of them faced euthanasia in southern california. >> reporter: they were overcrowded be the small breed dogs. to free up the much-needed space in those shelters and to spare the dogs' lives, the wings of rescue plane picked up the pups and brought them to long island. shelter workers then transferred the jet lagged dogs on the mobile adoption units. >> we took them back to north shore, they'll be fed and wartered and just -- watered and just rest for the evening. >> reporter: the mission now of course is to find loving homes for the new arrivals which include chihuahuas, terriers and other small breeds. >> this week we're excited we're starting our season of thanks with the first rescue here tonight and bringing the hundred dogs in. >> reporter: and there are more on the way. another 250 dogs, cats, kittens and puppies of all shapes and sizes will be here in the next few days from places like georgia, virginia, and tennessee. and they'll all be ready for in farmingdale, i'm joe torres, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> come on you can use that -- >> you want one of those?