Euthanasia: Pros and Cons

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position on the issue, and finally examining euthanasia’s current legal status and important historical information pertaining to the issue.

The definitions of euthanasia vary greatly, and the words “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide” are often used interchangeably. According to the World Medical Association, euthanasia is defined as “the act of deliberately ending the life of a patient” (World Medical Association, WMA Resolution on Euthanasia). However, according to the Canadian Medical Association, for an act to be considered euthanasia, the subject who will be euthanized must have voluntarily asked for his or her life to be ended. Since the definitions of euthanasia vary so greatly, even between well-known medical organizations, acts that are considered to be euthanasia according to certain definitions may not be considered euthanasia according to others. For example, non-voluntary euthanasia would not be considered euthanasia according to the definition of the Canadian ...

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on the other hand is when something is done to bring death upon the person. An example of active euthanasia would be if someone is given lethal drugs with the intention of causing death. Thus it can be said that in passive euthanasia, medical personnel who deprive their patients of what they need to live are not actually killing anyone, they are just not saving them. On the other hand, it is very clear that in active euthanasia measures are taken that directly cause the patient’s death. Voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary euthanasia are divisions of euthanasia that concern the desire of the person receiving euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia occurs when euthanasia is carried out in ...

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