Euthanasia

Euthanasia

1. The Basics

   • It is the termination of a person's life to relieve them of their suffering. Usually people who under go it, have incurable diseases.
   • It is derived from the Greek word 'euthanatos' , which means 'easy death'.
   • It is against the law in the UK, and it is illegal to help someone kill themselves. It can lead to imprisonment of up to 14 years.

2. Types of Euthanasia

   • Voluntary Euthanasia
     • A person, usually with a painful, terminal disease who is unable to do anything for themselves, asks someone else to kill them painlessly.
   • Non Voluntary Euthanasia
     • A person is not kept alive because they are regarded as having a life worse than death, but cannot make decisions for themselves - eg; Babies born with abnormalities, people on life support machines and considered clinically brain dead, and those who are in a coma.
   • Passive Euthanasia
     • No action is taken to prolong a life, but no deliberate action is taken to end it. E.g - If a person with terminal cancer has a heart attack, there would be no attempt to resuscitate them.
   • Active Euthanasia
     • Deliberate action is taken to end a life, such as the administration of a lethal injection, overdose of drugs or withdrawing a life supporting drug or machine.
   • Involuntary Euthanasia
     • A person who wants to live, but is killed anyways. Usually murder, but not always.

3. Pallative Care

   • Medical, emotional, spiritual care given to a person who is terminally ill, and is aimed at reducing suffering rather than curing (Hospice Movement)

4. Living Will

   • A document stating a patients wishes of how they want to be treated if they become seriously ill and unable to communicate.

5. The Hospice Movement

   • Terminally ill people who are dying of illnesses like AIDs or Cancer are cared for in Hospices until they die.
     • People are psychologically and spiritually prepared for death.
       • A hospice is a hospital for the terminally ill, run on a personal basis with experts to care for people.
   • Respite care.
     • Leaving a loved one with special needs in the care of another party.
   • Hospices strongly uphold the Christian teaching that life is a value as it is created by God.