Euthanasia is the intentional taking of someone’s life who is suffering from a terminal illness or in an irreversible coma. Euthanasia can also be known as “mercy killing.” Increasingly, however, the term is also used for cases in which a person, though gravely ill, is not immediately threatened with death (Frey 323). She simply does not want to live out the life to which illness has condemned her (Frey 323). Some people tend to think that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are the same, but do not get these two words mixed up. Today, the mention of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is guaranteed to elicit a reaction from most people (McDougall et al. 2). There are many differences between these two practices of taking a life. There are two main types of euthanasia, which are known as passive and active euthanasia. Active euthanasia requires taking steps to end a patient’s life. Active euthanasia is typically frowned upon by the law and by those in a medical profession. A patient can go through the process of active euthanasia by requesting that a doctor or other third party directly administer a lethal dose of a drug to them. The drug is usually given to the patient through injection. Morphine is one of the drugs that can be injected. In active euthanasia, the doctor may also provide the patient with the lethal dose and the patient may administer the dose …show more content…
Euthanasia can be categorized into three different forms, known as voluntary, involuntary, and non-voluntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia requires the patient’s consent. The patient’s consent is needed in order for the doctor to take the necessary steps to end the patient’s life. Voluntary euthanasia is often at the patient’s instruction. Involuntary euthanasia is when the steps to end a patient’s life are taken without the consent, directive, or request of the patient. Many people in society believe that involuntary euthanasia should be considered homicide. Non-voluntary euthanasia is when the steps taken to end a patient’s life are deemed incompetent by medical and legal authorities. The steps are taken through the consent of a person that the patient has designated to represent them in this type of situation, known as a trustee. Sometimes if the trustee consents euthanasia on behalf of the patient’s interests, then the case transforms into involuntary