Euthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia (derived from two Greek roots meaning “good death”) is ending the life of someone who is suffering who is incurably or terminally ill, based solely on the wishes of the person affected. There are three different types of euthanasia known as voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia usually involves incurably ill patients who are determined to die in order to end their suffering. The course of action that follows is described as either passive or active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia means letting someone die by withholding potentially life-prolonging medical care or by ending medical intervention such as a feeding tube that is keeping that person alive. Active euthanasia means doing something to end that person’s life, such as giving a lethal injection. Non- Voluntary euthanasia occurs when someone other than the patient has to make the decision about whether he or she should die. Finally, involuntary euthanasia is when a person wants to live but his or her life is taken