Euthanasia

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.

The arguments:

“Human beings should have the right to die when and how they want to”

For euthanasia: Each person has the right to control his or her body and life and so should be able to determine at what time, in what way and by whose hand he or she will die. Human beings should be as free as possible. They are autonomous – they have the right to take and carry out decisions about themselves.

Against euthanasia: Death is a natural event that happens to everyone. Therefore it makes no sense to talk about a right to die. Euthanasia involves doctors and other medical staff. If euthanasia was legalised someone would have to carry it out. Someone’s right to die, therefore becomes a doctor’s duty to kill.............

Ethical problems of euthanasia

Does an individual who has no hope of recovery have the right to decide how and when to end their life? 
Why euthanasia should be allowed

Those in favor of euthanasia argue that a civilized society should allow people to die in dignity and without pain, and should allow others to help them do so if they cannot manage it on their own.

They say that our bodies are our own, and we should be allowed to do what we want with them. So it's wrong to make anyone live longer than they want. In fact making people go on living when they don't want to violates their personal freedom and human rights. It’s immoral; they say to force people to continue living in suffering and pain.................

They add that as suicide is not a crime, euthanasia should not be a crime.

According to the theories:

Virtue theory:

Virtue ethics can be suppressed into one phase: “Act in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons.”

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