What is euthanasia?

What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia is the practice of killing or permitting the death of sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way out of an act of mercy.

According to WHO, euthanasia also referred to as mercy killing, is a controversial topic as it raises the following agonizing moral dilemmas:

  1. Is it right to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is undergoing severe pain and suffering?
  2. Under what circumstances can euthanasia be justifiable?
  3. Is there a moral difference between killing someone and letting them die?

At the heart of these arguments are different ideologies about the meaning and value of human existence.

According to Medical News Today, in the   U.S. and other countries, euthanasia has been a topic of debate since the early 1800s.

The first anti-euthanasia law in the U.S. was passed in New York state in 1828.

Euthanasia can be done in three ways: voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary euthanasia means that the act is performed with consent where the patient is given some documents to sign.

It is currently legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the states of Oregon and Washington in the U.S.

However, non-voluntary euthanasia  is conducted on a person who is unable to consent due to their current health condition.

In this scenario the decision is made by another person on behalf of the patient, based on their quality of life and suffering.

Involuntary euthanasia is when euthanasia is performed on a person who would be able to provide informed consent, but does not, either because they do not want to die, or because they were not asked. It is often termed as murder as it is usually against the patient’s will.

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