Euthanasia is one of the most debatable issues worldwide nowadays, the debate is so hot and the opposing viewpoints are so many that the term is hard to define. But if we go back to the origin of the word we find that it comes from the two Latin words "Eu Thantos" which mean good death (Robinson). According to the Collins Cobuild dictionary the definition of the term is "the practice of painlessly KILLING a dying person in order to end their suffering" (212). There are many other terms that are vaguely related such as: Voluntary & non-voluntary euthanasia, Active & passive euthanasia & physician assisted suicide. However, whatever name they give it the action is one, which is, ending the life of a person who is still alive. Euthanasia is not the answer for the problems of terminally ill patients and disabled babies. I think it should be banned worldwide because it is unethical, against all religions and for many other reasons discussed throughout the research.
First of all we need to elaborate the difference between different types of euthanasia before we carry on. There are five main terms related to euthanasia:.
Passive euthanasia: Hastening the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course. This is done by removing life support system (turning off respirator), stopping medical procedure, medication. Etc Stopping food and water and allowing the person to dehydrate or starve to death. Not delivering CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and allowing a person, whose heart has stopped, to die. .
Active euthanasia: Causing the death of a person through a direct action in response to a request from that person.
Physician assisted suicide: a physician supplies information or means that help patients to kill themselves. .
Voluntary euthanasia: ending the life of a person in reply to an explicit request from the person.
Non-voluntary euthanasia: the killing of a person who has not explicitly requested aid in dying.