Euthanasia–what is it?

Euthanasia (from the Greek  εὐθανασία meaning “good death”: εὖ, eu (well or good) + θάνατος, thanatos (death)) refers to the practice of ending a life in a manner which relieves pain and suffering.

Etymology
Like other terms borrowed from history, the “euthanasia” has had different meanings depending on usage. The first apparent usage of the term “euthanasia” belongs to the historian Suetonius who described how the Emperor Augustus, “dying quickly and without suffering in the arms of his wife, Livia, experienced the “euthanasia” he had wished for.” The word “euthanasia” was first used in a medical context by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, to refer to an easy, painless, happy death, during which it was a “physician’s responsibility to alleviate the “physical sufferings” of the body.” Bacon referred to an “outward euthanasia” —the term “outward” he used to distinguish from a spiritual concept —the euthanasia “which regards the preparation of the soul.”

In current parlance it has come to mean different but related things depending on philosophy and political persuasion: Opponents to euthanasia and assisted suicide , refer to an “active causation of a patient’s death by a physician”.Proponents instead refer to palliative care and easing of suffering.

Classification of Euthanasia
Euthanasia may be classified according to whether a person gives informed consent into three types: voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary.

There is a debate within the medical and bioethics literature about whether or not the non-voluntary (and by extension, involuntary) killing of patients can be regarded as euthanasia, irrespective of intent or the patient’s circumstances. In the definitions offered by Beauchamp & Davidson and, later, by Wreen, consent on the part of the patient was not considered to be one of their criteria. However, others see consent as essential. For example, in a discussion of euthanasia presented in 2003 by the European Association of Palliative Care (EPAC) Ethics Task Force, the authors offered the unambiguous statement:

“Medicalized killing of a person without the person’s consent, whether nonvoluntary (where the person in unable to consent) or involuntary (against the person’s will) is not euthanasia: it is murder. Hence, euthanasia can be voluntary only.”

Voluntary Euthanasia
Euthanasia conducted with the consent of the patient is termed voluntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. When the patient brings about his or her own death with the assistance of a physician, the term assisted suicide is often used instead.

Involuntary Euthanasia
Euthanasia conducted against the will of the patient is termed involuntary euthanasia. Involuntary euthanasia is widely opposed and is regarded as a crime in legal jurisdictions, and is sometimes used as a reason for not changing laws relating to other forms of euthanasia. Historically, involuntary euthanasia has received some support from parts of the pro-euthanasia movement. In 1937 a bill that included provisions for involuntary euthanasia was proposed in Nebraska , although it never went before the state legislature; and in 1943 a committee was formed by the Euthanasia Society of America that was to draft a bill that incorporated involuntary euthanasia for “idiots, imbeciles, and congenital monstrosities”.

[Read about non-voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. in my next post]