euthanasia

The term euthanasia may refer to any of the following scenarios:

Passive euthanasia: A third party withdraws or withholds life-sustaining medical care, allowing a patient to die more quickly (also referred to as forgoing life-sustaining treatment).

Assisted suicide: A patient ends his or her own life with medication provided by a third party.

Active euthanasia: A third party takes deliberate action on a patient, often by administering a lethal dose of medication to cause the patient's death.

From a patient's point of view, euthanasia can take two forms:

Voluntary euthanasia: A patient ends his or her life with the assistance of a third party.

Nonvoluntary euthanasia: A patient is unable to communicate his or her wishes, so family members or someone close to the patient decides the patient's life should end through euthanasia. This should not be confused with involuntary euthanasia, where a patient's life is terminated even though he or she clearly expresses a desire to live. Even when intended to end a loved one's pain and suffering, involuntary euthanasia is legally defined as murder.

Those who support euthanasia contend that each person should have the right to choose to end his or her own physical suffering. Those who are against euthanasia often think it is immoral and unethical to take a life under any circumstances. The American Medical Association stands in favor of passive euthanasia but doesn't support active euthanasia as acceptable medical practice. The Hippocratic oath, taken by doctors, includes the vow to "not prescribe a deadly drug to please someone, nor give advice that may cause his death." Many believe this prevents doctors from taking an active role in hastening the death of any patient.

Currently, Oregon is the only state in the United States that allows doctor-assisted suicide, through a law passed in 1997. The Netherlands is the only country in the world where voluntary euthanasia is openly practiced and allowable by law in certain situations.

In the United States, having an advance medical directive is the most reliable way to ensure that your own wishes regarding medical treatment for a terminal illness or condition will be carried out. A living will is one kind of advance directive. It is a legal document that instructs your doctor to withhold or withdraw any life-sustaining treatment meant to delay your death. Another form of advance directive is durable power of attorney for health care, in which you name a third party who is responsible for making medical decisions for you should you become unable to make them for yourself.