The Ethics Of Euthanasia

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including those in which it is held to be
immoral and illegal.
Organizations supporting the legalization of voluntary euthanasia
were established in Great Britain in 1935 and in the United States in 1938.
They have gained some public support, but so far they have been unable to
achieve their goal in either nation. In the last few decades, Western laws
against passive and voluntary euthanasia have slowly been eased, although
serious moral and legal questions still exist.
Critics point to the so-called euthanasia committees in Nazi
Germany that were empowered to condemn and execute anyone found to be a
burden to the state. This instance of abuse of the power of life and death
has long served as a warning to some against allowing the practice of
euthanasia.
The pro-euthanasia, or “right to die,” movement has received
considerable encouragement by the passage of laws in 40 states by 1990,
which allow legally competent individuals to make “living wills.” ...

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