Euthanasia

• Euthanasia


  The word euthanasia comes from two Greek words: eu which means good and thanatos which means 'death, so euthanasia means 'a good or gentle death. The intention is to end the life of someone who is in pain or has a poor quality of life due to a serious illness.
• Types of euthanasia


  • Voluntary euthanasia
  • Non-voluntary euthanasia
  • Involuntary euthanasia
• Voluntary euthanasia


  When a person asks a doctor to end their life as they do not wish to live anymore. This is their own choice.
• Non-voluntary euthanasia


  When the person is too ill to request to die, for example because they are in a coma, but a doctor will end their life for them because it is thought to do so would be in the best interests of the person.
• Involuntary euthanasia


  When the person is able to provide consent but does not, either because they do not want to or because they are not asked, but their life is ended anyway.
• Forms of euthanasia


  • Active euthanasia
  • Passive euthanasia
• Active euthanasia


  When active steps are taken to end someone's life, for example by giving them a lethal injection.
• Passive euthanasia


  When doctors stop providing treatment or do something that is intended to quicken the natural process of dying. For example, when a person is not resuscitated after a heart attack.
• All forms of euthanasia are currently illegal in the UK and treated as murder or manslaughter. However a medical decision may be made to withhold treatment if it is considered to be in a patient's best interests. In Britain such action would not be considered euthanasia.
• In September 2015, the British Parliament rejected plans for a 'right to die' law in England and Wales. 118 MPs were in favour and 330 against allowing some terminally ill adults to end their lives with medical supervision.
• Many Christians believe that taking a life is interfering with God's plan. They think it is comparable to murder and open to abuse. For example, if euthanasia was legalised, it could potentially lead to those who are very old feeling pressure to ask for euthanasia in order not to burden their families.
• Most Christians believe that euthanasia is against the sanctity of life, and only God has the right to take life away at a chosen time.
• Some Christians do support euthanasia and believe that the drugs that are used to end a suffering person's life are God-given, and should be used if it is the most loving thing to do. They believe that God has given people free will so they should be able to choose when to end their lives.
• This contrasts with the beliefs of Islam, which strictly forbid euthanasia in any form.
• Blessed are the merciful.: 'Matthew 5:7 (NIV]'
• ...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.: 'Psalm 139:16 [NV]'