Introduction

There has been much talk about euthanasia, what it means and how it might work. People have been told that the word means happy death, or death with dignity: they have been told of active and passive euthanasia really involves, party because of some difficulty with the subject and also because of the intentional creation of confusion by those who se personal interests are best served by this.

 

Definition

Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. Also it is known as death with dignity.

 

Brief history of Euthanasia:

1. In historical terms the issue of euthanasia has been around for as long as the history of medicine. Certainly, in ancient times it was quite common for doctors to kill their patients with various poisonous preparations and this posed enormous problems with regard to medical practice. It must have been most awkward from the patient’s point of view if he did not know whether his doctor was intending to cure him or kill him. The problem was recognized by a very prominent Greek physician called Hippocrates was renowned teacher of medicine and he made all his students take an oath which said among other things.

“That I will not give my patients any harmful thing even if they request it”

2. This was an enormous medical advance for it separated killing from medical advance for it separated killing from medical practice, and progress in medicine was now possible. The advantage of the oath, which eventually became known as the Hippocratic Oath, quickly became evident and it became the norm for medical practitioners of those times to take the Hippocratic Oath and the practice has persisted for some 2,300 years until today.

3. Legal systems, religious philosophy, and medical ethical codes over many centuries have held that euthanasia is unlawful, unethical and it has been universally condemned.

4. Historically it would appear that the issue of euthanasia did not become issue of serious note again until relatively modern times when two Germans in 1920 published a book called “The Release of the Destruction of Life Devoid Value”. The authors were Dr. Karl Binding, a lawyer, who was a Professor of Law and Doctor of Philosophy and Dr. Alfred Hoche, who was a Doctor of Medicine and a Psychiatrists.

5. The arguments that they used are just the same as those used today, namely, that of compassion. They said it was barbarous that a person has to die from his pain: that is permissible to shorten the act of dying and that people have a right to death with dignity. They also included fro euthanasia children they described as “useless idiots” but whom we would call mentally and physically retarded.

6. Following the publication of the book in 1920 advocating the killing of worthless people, there was a propaganda barrage directed against the traditional compassionate nineteenth century attitudes towards the chronically ill and for the adoption of this destructive point of view. That is, if a person was judged better of death, then he should be killed. This propaganda campaign was done by motion pictures books and even education of children in school of the economics benefits of mercy killing.

Euthanasia classifications

1. Euthanasia may be classified according to whether a person gives informed consent into three types: voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary. There is a debate within the medical and bioethics literature about whether or not non voluntary killing of patients can be regarded as euthanasia, irrespective of intent or the patient’s circumstances.
2. Passive and active euthanasia: passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments, such as antibiotics. Active euthanasia entails the use of lethal substances or forces, such as administering a lethal injection.
3. Voluntary euthanasia- euthanasia conducted with the consent of the patient is termed voluntary euthanasia.
4. Non-voluntary euthanasia- euthanasia conducted where the consent of the patient is unavailable is termed non-voluntary euthanasia.
5. Involuntary euthanasia- euthanasia conducted against the will of the patient is termed involuntary euthanasia.

 

Requirements of the doctor to practice Euthanasia:

1. You must be convinced that the patient’s request for euthanasia is voluntary and well-considered
2. You must be convinced that there is no possibly to improve that patient.
3. Patients should be informed of their situation, prognosis and treatment options.
4. You should discuss the situation with the customer and have concluded that there is no other reasonable solution.
5. One discuss the case with another colleague that is not connected with it.

 

Arguments in favour

Arguments based on rights:

1. People have an explicit right to die.
2. Death is a private matter and if there is no harm to others, the state and other people have no right to interfere.

 

Practical arguments:

1. It is possible to regulate euthanasia.
2. Allowing people to die may free up scarce health resources.

Philosophical argument

1. Euthanasia satisfies the criterion that moral rules must be universalizable.

 

Arguments Against:

Ethical arguments:

1. Euthanasia weakens society’s respect for the sanctity of life.
2. Accepting euthanasia accepts that some lives (those of the disabled or sick) are worth less than others.
3. Euthanasia might not be a person’s best interests.
4. Euthanasia affects other people’s rights, not just those of the patient.

Practical arguments:

1. Allowing euthanasia will lead to less good care for the terminally ill.
2. Euthanasia may become a cost-effective way to treat the terminally ill.
3. Allowing euthanasia will discourage the search for new cures and treatments for the terminally ill.
4. Euthanasia undermines the motivation to provide good care for the dying, and good pain relief.

 

Some countries and Euthanasia

Legal Euthanasia:

1. Vermont
2. New Mexico
3. United States (Washington, Montana, Oregon)
4. Holland
5. Belgium
6. Luxemburg

 

Illegal Euthanasia

1. Puerto Rico

 

Arguments Against:

Religious arguments:

1. Euthanasia is against the word and will of God.
2. Euthanasia weakens society’s respect for the sanctity of life.
3. Suffering may have value.
4. Voluntary euthanasia is the start of a slippery slope that leads to involuntary euthanasia and the killing of people who are thought undesirable.

 

The Patient’s will

1. According to Miguel Angel Nuñez Paz (1999), the patient has the right to decide in general, within the scope of their freedom, on whether or not to continue treatment already begun or prevent future treatment, so their consent is needed after receiving the information needed and therefore also it assists the right to refuse.

Types of Euthanasia

1. Voluntary euthanasia

a. Dying with Dignity.

b. A right to choose.

2. Involuntary euthanasia

a. Patient is refused a life sustaining treatment.

b. Examples: Drugs are too costly, limited supply of organs.

c. About 13,000 patients are on waiting list in the US.

Procedural classification of Euthanasia

1. Passive euthanasia: This is when life-sustaining treatments are withheld.
2. Active euthanasia: Lethal substances or forces are used to end the patient’s life.

 

Reasons for Euthanasia

1. Unbearable pain.
2. Right to commit suicide.
3. Reasons for Euthanasia
4. People should not be forced to stay alive? No. And neither the law nor medical ethics requires that “everything be done” to keep a person alive.

 

Effects of Euthanasia

1. On the Patient: Treatment denied to deserving patients based on so-called “quality of life” decisions.
2. On the Family: Provides an opportunity for a family with ulterior motives to acquire financial gain.
3. On the Medical Community and Society: Killing becomes an option in medical treatment options.

 

Pros of Euthanasia

1. It provides a way to relieve extreme pain
2. It provides a way of relief when a person’s quality of life is low
3. Frees up medical funds to help other people
4. It is another case of freedom of choice

 

Cons of Euthanasia

1. Euthanasia is a murder.
2. Euthanasia devalues human life.
3. Euthanasia is against Hippocratic oath.

 

How to stop Euthanasia?

1. People should not be involved in directly causing death
2. Families should hospitalized and do their best for patient
3. Community-wide solutions are key
4. All euthanasia must be as humane as possible

 

Conclusion

1. Euthanasia is a controversial issue today. All individuals have different views on this situation. Influencing factors such as ideology, economics, and politics. Therefore, it is a social problem which we must pay close attention. It should ensure the rights and decision-making of the sick patients and their consequences.