What Is Physician Assisted Suicide

Physician assisted suicide is when a doctor helps a patient take his own life.   This is



basically what it is, but there are different types, some are considered to be good, some are



murder.   No matter what type it is, this is one heated topic in some forums of discussion.   Some



argue we have the right to life, but not death.   I will describe basically what physician assisted



suicide is composed of, and the various types of assisted suicide.



Two categories divide the topic of physician assisted suicide.   These categories are Active



and Passive euphenasia.   Active euphenasia requires that a premeditated step   be taken in order to



intentionally end a patient's life.   This could be done with an administering of a lethal dose of



medication, carbon monoxide or other means, by the doctor.   Passive euphenasia is basically



letting nature take its course.   This would involve removing life support, letting an opportunistic



disease take over and kill the patient, or giving no treatment at all.  



These two categories can in turn be broken into two subcategories: voluntary and



nonvoluntary euphanasia.   Voluntary active euphanasia requires the patients explicit consent for



the doctor to aid in suicide.   Nonvoluntary active euphanasia is murder.   In this case the doctor



would intentionally kill the patient without the patient's consent.   Voluntary passive euphanasia



involves the patient refusing medical treatment, life support or intravenous nutrition in order to die.  



Nonvoluntary passive euphanasia is when the patient cannot make a decision to end his own life,



so his family decides for him.   This is only good when the patient has absolutely no chance of



surviving, or, if he does survive, then he would be a total vegetable; as good as dead. [continues]

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