Voluntary Euthanasia, Physician Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide or doctor-assisted suicide, or simply known as mercy killing is the action of deliberately ending the life of a hopelessly sick and injured individual (such as an animal or human being) to relieve pain and suffering. Euthanasia is a very controversial topic with many views related to religion, moral, ethical and compassionate arguments surrounding the issue (MedicalNewsToday, 2017; nhs.uk, 2017; Merriam-webster.com, 2017).
Euthanasia is also thought of as a practice of ending a life in a painless manner, but many oppose this interpretation as it lacks the reference to the suffering of a person, which forces him or others close to him to take this step.
Assisted suicide means …show more content…
For example, the person may be in a coma, or child euthanasia, which is illegal worldwide but is legal under specific circumstances in the Netherlands, e.g., when an infant is born with certain diseases (Wikipedia, 2017; nhs.uk, 2017).
• Involuntary Euthanasia: This is conducted against the consent of the patient. This decision is made by another person as the patient cannot be saved or is unable to give consent. This is usually regarded as murder, but there are exemptions. For example, a critically injured soldier asks the doctor to save him, but the doctor knows that the patient is going to die anyways and the patient is in pain and agony, the doctor may try to end his pain by performing involuntary euthanasia.
There are 2 other types of euthanasia depending on the way in which they are performed:
1. Passive Euthanasia: This is when life-supporting treatments are withheld and a person is left on his own to survive till he can. This is an indirect way of ending someone’s life. In this a doctor has an option not to prescribe futile treatments for a hopelessly ill
Euthanasia is also thought of as a practice of ending a life in a painless manner, but many oppose this interpretation as it lacks the reference to the suffering of a person, which forces him or others close to him to take this step.
Assisted suicide means …show more content…
For example, the person may be in a coma, or child euthanasia, which is illegal worldwide but is legal under specific circumstances in the Netherlands, e.g., when an infant is born with certain diseases (Wikipedia, 2017; nhs.uk, 2017).
• Involuntary Euthanasia: This is conducted against the consent of the patient. This decision is made by another person as the patient cannot be saved or is unable to give consent. This is usually regarded as murder, but there are exemptions. For example, a critically injured soldier asks the doctor to save him, but the doctor knows that the patient is going to die anyways and the patient is in pain and agony, the doctor may try to end his pain by performing involuntary euthanasia.
There are 2 other types of euthanasia depending on the way in which they are performed:
1. Passive Euthanasia: This is when life-supporting treatments are withheld and a person is left on his own to survive till he can. This is an indirect way of ending someone’s life. In this a doctor has an option not to prescribe futile treatments for a hopelessly ill