The following pages explain the practice of Euthanasia. Additionally, it explains in detail the effects it has on people and the ethical concerns. It examines the issues surrounding the two forms of Euthanasia and the current laws in America today in various states regarding euthanasia.
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Euthanasia is one of the most controversial issues in today's society that will probably affect all people. The debate on Euthanasia has only recently been brought to the forefront of the American public. It is a never-ending loop that considers our choice to the right to life. The term Euthanasia has become well known in our country. It is derived from the Greek meaning "good death" and is referred to intentional mercy killing. It is the practice of mercifully ending a person's life in order to release the person from incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death (Webster, 1998). .
Passive Euthanasia.
There are two types of Euthanasia and it is important to differentiate between the two related terms. Passive Euthanasia involves hastening the death of a person by altering some form of life support and letting nature takes it course (Yount,2000). For example, when a doctor refrains from utilizing an artificial respirator, ceasing medical procedures, or not providing CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and simply allowing the individual to die, would be a passive form. The most common form of passive euthanasia is giving a patient large doses of pain killers to control the pain, even though it will hasten the death process (Hillyard, 2001). These procedures are usually performed on terminally ill patients as well as individuals that are in a vegetative state who have massive brain damage and are unable to regain consciousness. This is basically perceived as the patient dying naturally and the dying is done through nonintervention. In passive euthanasia one simply refuses treatment with the knowledge that death is imminent.
