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DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND INFO

Euthanasia is
the practice of
intentionally
ending a life
in order to
relieve pain
and suffering.

In some countries there is a

divisive public controversy over
the moral, ethical, and legal
issues of euthanasia. Those who
are against euthanasia may argue
for the sanctity of life, while
proponents of euthanasia rights
emphasize alleviating suffering,
and preserving bodily integrity,
self-determination, and personal
autonomy. Jurisdictions where
euthanasia is legal include the
Netherlands, Colombia, Belgium
and Luxembourg.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

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
suffering". In the Netherlands and
Flanders, euthanasia is understood as
"termination of life by a doctor at the
request of a patient".

THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES

Euthanasia is categorized in different ways, which include
voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary. Voluntary
euthanasia is legal in some countries. Non-voluntary
euthanasia is illegal in all countries. Involuntary
euthanasia is usually considered murder. As of 2006,
euthanasia is the most active area of research in
contemporary bioethics.
Involuntary euthanasia occurs when euthanasia is
performed on a person who is able to provide informed
consent, but does not, either because they do not choose
to die, or because they were not asked.
Voluntary euthanasia is the practice of ending a life in a
painless manner.

REASONS FOR EUTHANASIA

ethical argumentthat people should have freedom of
choice, including the right to control their own body
and life (as long as they do not abuse any other
persons rights), and that the state should not create
laws that prevent peoplebeing able to choose when
and how they die.
pragmatic argumentthat euthanasia, particularly
passive euthanasia, isallegedly already a widespread
practice, just not one that people are willing to
admitto, so it is better to regulate euthanasia
properly.
We personally agree with these points.

CASE STUDY
Dianne Pretty was suffering from motor neurone disease
and wanted to die. She and her husband petitioned the
courts to give immunity from prosecution to her husband
if he were to help her to kill herself. He did not get
immunity, the disease took its inevitable course, and
Dianne Pretty died in hospital under exactly the sort of
conditions she had wanted to avoid.
A documentary crew recorded the suffering and loss of
dignity that Dianne Pretty endured, and this made her
case very well known in England. The court cases, show an
interesting range of ethical responses, ending with the
statement from the European Courts only weeks before
she died that Dianne Pretty did not have the right to die.

OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS ON EUTHANASIA

In our view, the person who is terminally ill should be able to
decide whether or not they want to kill themselves - only
they understand how it feels. However, if they are unable to
do it themselves, it should be legal to have assistance.