Euthanasia Statement

Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient’s suffering.

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Written by Myend
Updated over a week ago

What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia is a medical term for the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient’s suffering. A patient in this case could be terminally ill or experiencing great pain and suffering.

The word “euthanasia” comes from the Greek words “eu” (good) and “thanatos” (death). It has come to mean an act of mercy killing, so that someone can die a painless, gentle death.

Types of euthanasia

It's important to note that there are different types of euthanasia, each with its own definition.

  • Active euthanasia

    A medical procedure to end a patient's life by injecting lethal drugs. Sometimes called “forcibly inducing death,” or “aggressive euthanasia.”

  • Passive euthanasia

    Involves letting a patient die by withholding artificial life support such as a ventilator or feeding tube. Some ethicists distinguish between different actions within passive euthanasia: withdrawing life support, which means the patient is on life support but then removed from it, and withholding life support, which means the patient is intentionally allowed to stop breathing and die without any artificial mechanisms being used.

  • Voluntary euthanasia

    With the consent of the patient.

  • Involuntary euthanasia

    The act of ending a patient’s life without his or her consent—occurs when the patient is unconscious and his or her wishes are unknown. Some ethicists distinguish between involuntary and non voluntary forms of euthanasia.

  • Self-administered euthanasia

    The patient administers the means of death.

  • Other-administered euthanasia

    A person other than the patient administers the means of death.

  • Assistance

    The patient is helped by another person, such as a physician, to end his or her life.

There are many possible combinations of the above types of euthanasia, and many types are morally controversial. Some types of assisted voluntary euthanasia are legal in some countries.

  • Mercy-Killing

    The term “mercy killing,” in its broadest sense, refers to any case in which a person is killed, at his or her own request or that of another individual, ostensibly to end suffering.

  • Physician-assisted suicide

    A physician who provides a means for his or her patient to kill himself or herself is committing assisted suicide.

Many instances of euthanasia are deemed morally acceptable by society. Passive euthanasia, for instance, is legal in most countries.

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