Euthanasia: The right to die, and many arguments

The Greek term 'Euthanasia' means a painless death.

- DR. RAVI PRAKASH TIWARI

Euthanasia embodies several facets, from active (introducing something to cause demise) to passive (discontinuing treatment); voluntary (consent) to involuntary (consent from guardian) and physician's assistance (where a physician prescribes the medicine and patient or the third party administers the medication to cause demise).

ARGUMENTS OF ADVOCATES OF EUTHANASIA

Refusing care: The right to refuse medical treatment is acknowledged in law, encompassing medical treatment prolonging life. For instance, a blood-cancer patient can refuse treatment. This recognition of the right to refuse treatment paves the way for a passive euthanasia.

Caregivers' plight: People with a degenerative, incurable, disabling or debilitating condition should be allowed to die in dignity. The caregiver's plight is excruciating and cuts across several facets such as emotional, time, financial, physical, mental and social.

Right to die: Patients with a persistent vegetative state or chronic illness hate being a burden to their family members. Euthanasia can be deemed a way to assert the 'Right to life' by granting 'Right to die' dignifiedly.

Promoting the organ transplantation: Euthanasia in terminally ill patients provides a possibility to champion for organ donation. Not only does euthanasia provide 'Right to die' for the terminally ill, but also 'Right to life' for the needy patients.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA