Euthanasia
What is it euthanasia?
Euthanasia refers to the act of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve
them from suffering, typically due to a terminal illness or severe, incurable
condition. The term comes from the Greek words "eu" (good) and "thanatos"
(death), meaning "good death".
Types of euthanasia
Voluntary Euthanasia: Ending a person’s life with their explicit consent to alleviate suffering from
a terminal illness or severe condition.
Involuntary Euthanasia: Ending a person’s life without their consent, typically considered
unethical and illegal.
Non-Voluntary Euthanasia: Ending the life of an individual who cannot consent, based on
decisions made by others on their behalf.
Active Euthanasia: Directly causing death through actions such as administering a lethal
substance.
Passive Euthanasia: Allowing a person to die by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining
treatments.
Assisted Suicide: Providing a person with the means to end their own life, usually through a
prescribed lethal medication.
Arguments for:
Autonomy and Personal Choice: Individuals should have the right to
decide to end their suffering and die with dignity.
Relief from Suffering: Euthanasia can provide a compassionate way
to end severe pain and suffering when no other options are effective.
Economic and Resource Considerations: It may reduce healthcare
costs and reallocate resources to those with better recovery potential.
Arguments against:
Ethical and Moral Concerns: Life is inherently valuable, and euthanasia may be
morally wrong; there is also a risk of a slippery slope leading to broader
applications.
Potential for Abuse: Vulnerable individuals might be pressured into euthanasia,
and safeguards may be insufficient to prevent misuse.
Impact on Society and Medical Ethics: Euthanasia could undermine trust
between patients and doctors and conflict with the medical role to heal.
Possibility of Misdiagnosis and Alternatives: There is a risk of errors in
prognosis and the availability of improved palliative care options that might provide
relief without ending life.
statistics
