Euthanasia Euthanasia could be known as assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide , doctor- assisted suicide , and more used term, mercy killing, which basically means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering and pain.. There are different euthanasia laws in each country. The British House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics defines euthanasia as “a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable uffering.
In the Netherlands euthanasia is understood as “termination of life by a doctor at the request of a patient”. Euthanasia can be categorized in different ways, which can include: voluntary, non- voluntary, or involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia – is legal in some countries and U. S. states. Since 2009 voluntary euthanasia has been legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the states of Oregon and Washington (USA). Involuntary euthanasia – euthanasia is conducted without consent and is usually onsidered murder.
This decision is usually made by another person because the patient is incapable to doing so himself/herself. Non- Voluntary euthanasia: is somewhat illegal in all countries. In the majority of countries assisted euthanasia is against the law. According to the National Health Service (NHS), I-JK, it is illegal to help somebody kill themselves, regardless of circumstances. Assisted or voluntary euthanasia carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison in the LJK. There are two procedural classifications of euthanasia:
Passive euthanasia- the definition of passive euthanasia is often not clear cut. For example, if a doctor prescribes increasing doses of painkilling medications which may eventually be toxic for the patient, some may argue whether passive euthanasia is taking place – in most cases, the doctor’s measure is seen as a passive one. Many claim that the term is wrong, because euthanasia has not taken place, because there is no intention to take life. Active euthanasia – A mode of ending life in which the intent is to cause the patient’s death in a single act (also called mercy killing).
Like any other subject: Euthanasia has its positives and negatives Positives: It provides a way to relieve extreme pain It provides a way of relief when a person’s quality of life is low Frees up medical funds to help other people It is another case of freedom of choice Negatives: Euthanasia devalues human life Euthanasia can become a means of health care cost containment Physicians and other medical care people should not be involved in directly causing death There is a “slippery slope” effect that has occurred where euthanasia has been first been eople or to be done non-voluntarily.
Religious views on euthanasia Islam Forbids all forms of suicide and any action that may help another to kill himself. It is also forbidden for a Muslim to plan, or come to know through self-will, the time of his own death in advance. The precedent for this comes from the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH) having refused to bless the body of a person who had committed suicide. If an individual is suffering from a terminal illness, it is permissible for the individual to refuse medication and/or resuscitation.
Other examples include individuals suffering from kidney failure who refuse dialysis treatments and cancer patients who refuse chemotherapy. Buddhism There are many views among Buddhists on the issue of euthanasia, but many are critical of the procedure. An important value of Buddhist teaching is compassion. Compassion is used by some Buddhists as a Justification for euthanasia because the person suffering is relieved of pain. However, it is still immoral “to embark on any course of action whose aim is to destroy human life, irrespective of the quality of the ndividual’s motive. Christianity *Catholicism: Catholic teaching condemns euthanasia as a “crime against life” and a “crime against God”. The teaching of the Catholic Church on euthanasia rests on several core principles of Catholic ethics, including the sanctity of human life the dignity of the human person, concomitant human rights, due proportionality in casuistic remedies, the unavoidability of death, and the importance of charity. *Protestantism: Protestant denominations vary widely on their approach to euthanasia and physician assisted death.
Since the 1970s, Evangelical churches have worked with Roman Catholics on sanctity of life approach, though some Evangelicals may be adopting a more exceptionalness opposition. While liberal Protestant denominations have largely eschewed euthanasia, many individual advocates (such as Joseph Fletcher) and euthanasia society activists have been Protestant clergy and laity. As physician assisted dying has obtained greater legal support, some liberal Protestant denominations have offered religious arguments and support for limited forms of euthanasia.
