Euthanasia - Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Introduction

Euthanasia refers to a procedure conducted by a physician at the request of the patient to end his or her life. Various factors may ultimately drive a patient to consider euthanasia. Nonetheless, the practice is fraught with legal complexities, resulting in its prohibition in many countries.

What Is Euthanasia?

Euthanasia, also known as physician-assisted suicide, is the deliberate act of a doctor ending a patient's life, typically to eliminate their suffering. This practice is carried out at the request of the patient, particularly those who are experiencing significant pain and illness. The process of euthanasia is complex, involving numerous legal protocols and considerations of the patient's mental capacity and wishes.

What Are the Different Types of Euthanasia?

There are many types of euthanasia. Euthanasia depends upon factors like the level of illness and the patient's mental status. Different types of euthanasia are:

• Mercy Killing: Mercy-killing, also known as active, involuntary or nonvoluntary euthanasia, is when someone ends a patient's suffering without their permission. This is a controversial topic among ethicists.

• Direct Euthanasia: Direct euthanasia refers to the intentional act of a physician terminating a patient's life by administering a lethal dose of medication. For instance, the injection of a lethal substance can result in the immediate death of the patient.

• Indirect Euthanasia: Indirect euthanasia occurs when a doctor gradually increases the dosage of medication to end a patient's life. This approach involves the use of a toxic drug that ultimately leads to the patient's death.

• Voluntary Euthanasia: It is when the patient has decided to end their life after considering the health issues. It even provides informed consent before the patient’s death.

• Involuntary Euthanasia: It is when some other person decides to end some other life. It involves a close family of a patient to make such a decision. It is done because the patient is unconscious and has not responded to the treatment the doctor is providing. After the decision, the basic life support of the patient is stopped.

In addition to this, euthanasia can be classified as active (resulting from a deliberate action) or passive (allowing someone to pass away by either stopping or not starting treatment).

Is Euthanasia a Legal Practice?

Although it is a patient choice to live or die, in some countries, it is illegal, and some have legalized it. Many debates on legalizing it have been ongoing. But few countries accept it with statements of law under it. The countries that have legalized euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are:

• The Netherlands.

• Belgium.

• Luxembourg.

• Colombia.

• Canada.

• Victoria (since 2017) and Western Australia (since 2019) in Australia.

As of February 2020, the legislative body in Spain is engaged in discussions regarding a proposed bill aimed at legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide, while parallel legislative efforts are underway in Portugal, spurred by the endorsement of related proposals by its parliament. In New Zealand, the parliament expressed its support for the legalization of euthanasia in late 2019, with a national referendum scheduled to occur in September 2020 to further address this matter.

Some countries have legalized physician-assisted suicides but have not legalized euthanasia. The countries are:

• The United States.

• Australia.

• Germany.

• Switzerland.

• Japan.

In the United States, physician-assisted suicide is legal in some states. However, these states have different legal works. States are:

• California.

• Colorado.

• District of Columbia.

• Hawaii.

• Maine.

• New Jersey.

• New Mexico.

• Oregon.

• Vermont.

• Washington.

• Montana (Legal only under court ruling)

Countries legalizing passive euthanasia are:

• The Netherlands.

• Canada.

• Belgium.

• Colombia.

• India.

What Are the Advantages of Euthanasia?

The advantages of euthanasia are:

• The use of euthanasia is the last option left when nothing goes for the treatment of the patients. The main goal is to end the suffering of the patient.

• The right to die is a personal choice; even the government can not interfere in the decision.

• Euthanasia has less involvement of the doctor. The patient has a more prominent role to play than the doctor.

• The final decision of euthanasia benefits the patient's loved ones in every way of finances and time.

• The patient wants to free his loved ones from the burden of caring.

• All patients are not allowed to go for euthanasia; few patients with very severe and chronic illnesses with no improvement points are accepted for euthanasia.

• As death is the bitter truth, it will happen anyway.

What Are the Disadvantages of Euthanasia?

Disadvantages of euthanasia are:

• The prediction of the terminal diagnosis is sometimes not accurate. Diagnosis of the patient's problem should be accurate.

• Consent issues: The doctor should have legal consent informed to the patient before euthanasia.

• Medication issues: Euthanasia sometimes does not work as promised.

• The patient can use euthanasia for other personal reasons.

• Doctor relieving false information.

• Most patients do not listen to the complete procedure of euthanasia.

• Euthanasia eliminates the benefit of palliative care.

Is Euthanasia a Murder?

No, euthanasia is not murder. It is an entirely new medico-legal decision made by the patient to die, to get free from the never-ending illness he or she is suffering. In the conclusion of euthanasia, the patient has informed consent, which informs about the patient's will and protects the doctor. The doctor plays just a short role in eliminating the patient’s pain.

What Are the Associated Factors That Affect Euthanasia?

The factors affecting euthanasia are:

• Causes of Illness: Patients associated with cancer have significantly fewer chances to live a complete life.

• Mental Stress: It can affect the mental status of the patient.

• Ethnicity: Some religious people do it in the name of tradition.

Is Euthanasia the Right Choice at Last?

Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is a personal choice of the patient to die. However, it is a callous decision for the patient or the loved ones. Even if all the scenarios favor euthanasia, one should know final treatments for palliative care should be done. The end-to-life treatment is for critically ill patients. Before going for euthanasia, the doctor should acknowledge the patient of all the perspectives related to patients and legal laws. Euthanasia should never be done blindly or without trusting anyone. The patient should also take a second opinion before euthanasia.

Conclusion

Euthanasia is deliberately ending a critically ill patient who is not responding to any treatment. There are legal actions involved in it. Euthanasia is of different types; active or passive euthanasia and voluntary or non-voluntary euthanasia. Some factors affect it, like mental stress and the patient's age. Although all countries do not favor it, some countries prefer just physician-assisted suicide.