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Euthanasia, also mercy killing, practice of ending a life so as to release an individual from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. ... Voluntary euthanasia involves a request by the dying patient or that persons legal representative. Passive or negative euthanasia involves not doing something to prevent death—that is, allowing someone to die; active or positive euthanasia involves taking deliberate action to cause a death.
History
Euthanasia has been accepted both legally and morally in various forms in many societies. ... ” Both Socrates and Plato sanctioned forms of euthanasia in certain cases. Voluntary euthanasia for the elderly was an approved custom in several ancient societies.
With the rise of organized religion, euthanasia became morally and ethically abhorrent. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all hold human life sacred and condemn euthanasia in any form. ... Euthanasia, however, occurs secretly in all societies, including those in which it is held to be immoral and illegal.
Legal Aspects
Organizations supporting the legalization of voluntary euthanasia were established in Great Britain in 1935 and in the United States in 1938. ... In the last few decades, Western laws against passive and voluntary euthanasia have slowly been eased, although serious moral and legal questions still exist.
Critics point to the so-called euthanasia committees in Nazi Germany that were empowered to condemn and execute anyone found to be a burden to the state. This instance of abuse of the power of life and death has long served as a warning to some against allowing the practice of euthanasia. ...
Medical Ethics
The medical profession has generally been caught in the middle of the social controversies that rage over euthanasia. ... Proponents of euthanasia, however, believe that prolonging life in this way may cause great suffering to the patient and the family. ...
Some opponents of euthanasia have feared that the increasing success that doctors have had in transplanting human organs might lead to abuse of the practice of euthanasia. ... Today, patients are entitled to opt for passive euthanasia; that is, to make free and informed choices to refuse life support. The controversy over active euthanasia, however, is likely to remain intense because of opposition from religious groups and many members of the medical profession.
Approximate Word count = 2965
Approximate Pages = 11.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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