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The word euthanasia derives from the Greek word for a “good death”, and it is defined as ‘a quiet and easy death or the means of procuring this or inducing this’. ... The applied ethical issue of euthanasia, or mercy killing, concerns whether it is morally permissible for a third party, such as a surgeon, to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is in intense pain. The euthanasia debate is part of a larger issue concerning the right to die. ... Therefore, according to these people, euthanasia is in principle morally permissible. On the other hand, patients are not always conscious when the question of euthanasia arises and therefore they cannot make a decision for themselves.
Individuals try to bring about a “good death” by using two different methods: passive or active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia comprises of a procedure where no action or medical intervention is required. ... A number of people have the false impression that passive euthanasia is incompatible with a belief in the sanctity of life. Pope Pius XII illustrated the Roman Catholic Church’s belief in maintaining sanctity of life wile affirming passive euthanasia, he stated: “Natural reason and Christian morals say that man (and whoever is entrusted with the task of taking care of his fellow man) has the right and the duty in case of serious illness to take the necessary treatment for the preservation of life and health. ... ”
In 1977 Mostafa Nagi carried out a study in relation to the attitudes of Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy toward euthanasia. This study revealed that 73 per cent and 69 per cent of Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy found passive euthanasia acceptable for patients who wanted to go home, and be surrounded by family members, to die in peace. On the other hand, only 18 per cent of Protestant clergy and 2 per cent of Catholic clergy found ‘active’ euthanasia acceptable.
Active euthanasia comprises of a deliberate act to end another person’s life. By and large, it is understood as the intentional act of killing someone who would otherwise suffer from an incurable and painful disease. An example of active euthanasia is the famous American case of “Debbie”, a twenty year old woman with terminal ovarian cancer whose death was hastened by her physician because he “wanted to help put her out of her misery”. However, active euthanasia can be involuntary, non-voluntary or voluntary. Involuntary active euthanasia refers to the death of a patient by a medical practitioner, lacking the patient’s consent. ... Non-voluntary euthanasia takes place ‘when a surrogate decision maker asks a physician for assistance to end another person’s life’. Voluntary euthanasia refers to the intentional termination of life at the patient’s request, which is to be performed by someone other than the patient. ...
Presently, active euthanasia has been mainly accepted in the Netherlands, where physicians are legally allowed to give lethal injections to patients who request death. The guidelines for voluntary active euthanasia in the Netherlands comprise of the presence of a terminal diagnosis, the patient’s unwavering desire to die, the presence of suffering that the patient finds unbearable, and a second medical opinion.
Approximate Word count = 2485
Approximate Pages = 9.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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