What is Euthanasia?

Before we go into the details, let me ask you first: What is the difference between letting a person die for a good purpose and killing oneself for a valid reason?

There are people who just want to end their lives in exchange to their incurable condition. This state of mind refers to euthanasia, commonly known as mercy killing. Euthanasia comes from Greek words eu, which means good and thanatos, meaning death. Thus, euthanasia refers to easy death or good death. This is an act of ending one’s life intentionally to escape from severe pain and suffering. This practice is usually done upon the request of a very ill person or patient. However, there are instances that it is the loved ones who take the decision on behalf of the patient. This happens when the sick person is no longer conscious about his grave condition and thus unable to make a choice.

There are different forms of euthanasia depending on the circumstances on how it was executed. An active euthanasia is directly causing the death of the patient while passive euthanasia is brought about by omission, allowing the victim to die. The former can be done by doing an action such as giving lethal injection and the latter is through withdrawing or withholding treatment to the patient. There are also the so-called voluntary, involuntary, and non-voluntary euthanasia. The first form is when the killed person was the one who asked to terminate his life. The second is when the victim chose to live but is killed. This act can be treated as a murder. The third form is a condition when the killed person is already unconscious and someone takes the decision to end the patient’s life. Other forms are indirect euthanasia and assisted suicide. Indirect euthanasia is slowly killing by giving treatment that has side effects to speed up the patient’s death. From the word itself, assisted suicide is when someone helps a patient to kill himself. Assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia are subjected to up to 14 years of life imprisonment.

Is death really a bad thing? The rational reason why death is regarded as a bad thing because of the following:
• Human life is sacred and valuable in almost all aspects.
• People in general do not want to die.
• God is the superior of all things and thus the only one, who has the right to take away life.

The issue of mercy killing has been the subject of debates for many years. Religiously speaking, it is wrong to kill oneself or even command others to do it for someone else. Human being is God’s creation and any person does not have the right to decide when to end his life. Taking away our lives against the Creator’s will is said to be denying God as well.

Proponents of euthanasia contend that terminally sick patients have the right to die by choice. On the contrary, the opponents of mercy killing argue that doctors, physicians, and other related professions with nursing uniforms, have responsibility to their patients, morally and ethically. The Hippocratic Oath reflects this thought. They believe that to kill a patient even through compassionate death is a murder. For them, legalizing this practice only targets the unfortunate individuals, such as the disabled and the poor.

Euthanasia issue remains unsolved until now and there is still no definite, concrete, and universal explanation to admit if this is really right or a crime. However, whatever the correct answer between living and dying, everyone should give it comprehensive consideration with regards to religious view, practical aspect, and ethical standard.