Euthanasia And The Right To Die: A Legal And Moral Perspective
- IJLLR Journal
- May 3
- 1 min read
Nandita Pandey, Amity University Lucknow Campus
Ms. Adya Pandey, Assistant Professor, Amity University Lucknow Campus
INTRODUCTION
The concept of euthanasia has remained a subject of intense debate since its origin. The term "euthanasia" stems from the Greek words "eu" meaning "good" and "thanatos" meaning "death," which together signify "a good death." Euthanasia is broadly understood as the deliberate acceleration of a person's death to alleviate extreme suffering.
Euthanasia can be categorized as either active or passive. Active euthanasia involves direct intervention by a medical professional typically through the administration of lethal medication—to end the life of a patient who is terminally or incurably ill. Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, involves the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatments.
Active euthanasia itself is further divided based on the patient's consent:
Voluntary euthanasia: performed at the explicit request of the patient.
Non-voluntary euthanasia: carried out when the patient is unable to give consent.
Involuntary euthanasia: conducted without the patient’s consent, often against their will.
Terms like "assisted suicide" and "physician-assisted suicide" are often used interchangeably with euthanasia, but they hold different legal and ethical meanings. For instance, a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order allows healthcare providers to refrain from performing CPR if a patient’s heart stops. While it is a form of passive euthanasia, DNRs are legally recognized and commonly practiced worldwide with minimal controversy.
Patients who seek euthanasia are often those suffering from terminal illnesses such as advanced-stage cancer, AIDS, or other conditions where curative treatment is no longer viable.
