Euthanasia:
Definition:
“Euthanasia is
the intentional killing by act or omission of a person whose life is felt not
to be worth living.”
Introduction:
Euthanasia
- refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many different
forms of euthanasia can be distinguished, including animal euthanasia and human
euthanasia, and within the latter, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia.
Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have been the focus of
great controversy in recent years.
History:
The term euthanasia comes from the Greek word which means “well-death” .
Hippocrates mentions euthanasia in the Hippocratic Oath, which was written
between 400 and 300 B.C. The original Oath states: “To please no one will I
prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.”
Classification
of Euthanasia:
Euthanasia by consent:
Euthanasia may be conducted with
consent (voluntary euthanasia) or without consent (involuntary euthanasia).
Involuntary euthanasia is conducted where an individual makes a decision for
another person incapable of doing so.
Euthanasia by means:
Euthanasia may be conducted passively, non-actively, and actively.
Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments (such as
antibiotics, chemotherapy in cancer, or surgery) or the distribution of a
medication (such as morphine) to relieve pain, knowing that it may also result
in death (principle of double effect).
A
Controversial Contemporary Issue
The facts:
Euthanasia comes from two Greek words
meaning “good death”. In contemporary debate it refers to the deliberate
killing of a person supposedly for the benefit of that person. It is sometimes
termed “mercy killing”. In most cases euthanasia is carried out because the
person who dies asks for it (voluntary euthanasia), but there are cases of
euthanasia where a person can't make such a request (involuntary euthanasia). A
person who undergoes euthanasia is usually terminally ill, but there are other
situations in which some people want euthanasia. Below you’ll find some of the
main arguments that are used in favour and against euthanasia.
