Euthanasia is derived from a Greek word meaning “good death”. It is the intentional killing of a person whose life is considered not to be worth living.
This practice means to intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.
In short, it can also be said as-
• “ A GENTLE AND EASY DEATH”
• “ MERCY KILLING”
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EUTHANASIA?
The purpose is that in, last days a patient can peacefully die. (End life)
The concept of euthanasia is deliberately ending the suffering to bring relief to the patient.
In medical field, euthanasia and assisted suicide are often used interchangeably. But there are a number of differences between the two.
CLASSIFICATION OF EUTHANASIA
- • VOLUNTARY-
• THE PERSON, WHO IS BEEN KILLED, HAS REQUESTED TO BE KILLED WITH HIS/HER FULL CONSENT.
• A HELP CAN BE ASKED BY THE PATIENT WHO IS DYING, HELP BURDEN SOME MEDICAL TREATMENT OR GIVE SOMEONE PEACEFUL DEATH.
2.NON-VOLUNTARY-
• THE PERSON WHO IS KILLED MADE NO REQUEST AND NO CONCENT.
• THE PERSON IS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE HIS WISHES.
• CONSENT OF PATIENT IS UNAVAILABLE. EG-COMMA, INSANE, SEVERALY BRAINDAMAGED
3.IN-VOLUNTARY-
• THE PERSON WHO IS KILLED MADE A WISH TO THE CONTRARY.
• CONDUCTED AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PATIENT.
• THIS IS USUALLY MURDER BUT NOT ALWAYS. (MAYBE DONE FOR GREATER GOOD)
4. ACTIVE EUTHANASIA- AGGRESSIVE EUTHANASIA
• CAUSING INTENTIONAL QUICKER DEATH OF HUMAN BEING BY DIRECT INTERVENTION.
• ALL FORMS OF ACTIVE EUTHANASIA ARE MURDERS.
5. PASSIVE EUTHANASIA- NON- AGGRESSIVE EUTHANASIA
• INTENTIONALLY CAUSING DEATH BY NOT PROVIDING ESSENTIAL CARE OR FOOD AND WATER WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CONTINUANCE OF LIFE.
• SLOWER AND MORE UNCOMFORTABLE DEATH.
• PART OF MANY RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL PRACTICES.
• ALLOWED IN INDIA.
GLOBAL SCENARIO OF EUTHANASIA
- NETHERLANDS- IN 2002, 1st COUNTRY TO LEGALISE EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE.
➢ Unbearable pain
➢ Incurable death
➢ Consent must be made in full consciousness by the patient. - BELGIUM- IT WAS THE 2nd COUNTRY TO PASS IN 2002.
PATIENTS CAN RECEIVE EUTHANASIA –
➢ Unbearable pain
➢ Clearly stated before getting into coma or vegetative state. - SWITZERLAND- THIS COUNTRY IS ALSO KNOWN AS SUICIDE CAPITAL.
➢ Assisted suicide is legitimized.
➢ But Euthanasia is not done directly by patients.
CLASSIFICATION OF EUTHANASIA
ARUNA SHAUNBAUG CASE-
• She worked as a nurse in king Edward memorial hospital
• She was sexually assaulted, deprived of oxygen and left to die in 1973
• She was left in coma.
Her friend named ‘Pinky Virani’ filed the plea on the behalf Aruna, arguing the continued existence of Aruna is in violation of her right to live with dignity as-
o Kept alive by feeding tube.
o Court rejected her plea in 2011.
o Aruna died in 2015 due to pneumonia after been in coma for 42 years.
• ANAMIKA MISHRA CASE-
• A woman from Kanpur wrote to PM Narendra Modi seeking euthanasia for her daughter Anamika Mishra as she was suffering from muscular dystrophy disease (father died of the same).
• Poor financial conditions.
• PM responded and told officers to look into matter.
• MR. NARAYAN AND MRS. IRAVATI LAVATE CASE-
• Elderly couple from Thakurdwar, Mumbai.
• Wrote a letter to the office of president of India seeking “Active Euthanasia”.
• Both didn’t have medical problems.
• Had a fear of being terminally ill and not doing anything for the society.
• Decided to seek permission for mercy killing.
RECENT CHANGES-
• In 2018, SC legalized passive euthanasia.
• Withdrawal of life support to patients in permanent vegetative state.
• As 5 judges bench of Chief Justice Of India, Dipak Mishra and it was legally based on ARUNA SHANBAUG CASE.
• Patients must consent through a living will, and must be either terminally ill or in vegetative state.
• Active Euthanasia including the administration or lethal compounds for purpose of ending life is illegal.
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