Euthanaisa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Euthanaisa - Essay Example 2 Therefore it is better to view euthanasia or assisted suicide under its different classifications. The first such key classification is active euthanasia. Active euthanasia happens when deliberate action is taken by medical professionals or other persons like care givers to cause a patient to die. Passive euthanasia happens when there is omission of action by medical professionals or other persons like care givers in doing what is necessary to keep a patient alive, leading to the death of the patient. Active or passive euthanasia stems from voluntary or involuntary actions, and hence the terms voluntary or involuntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia happens through a request for death by the patient, while involuntary euthanasia happens even when the patient may want to continue living, but the medical professionals or care givers decide that it is better for the patient to die. This is the case when the patient is in coma or unable to choose between a meaningful life and dignified death. Finally, there is indirect euthanasia, wherein the treatment that is provided has a side effect of speeding up the end of the patient. The subtle difference between active euthanasia and indirect euthanasia is that in active euthanasia the action taken is with the object of bringing about the end of the patient, while in indirect euthanasia the objective in the treatment is to alleviate some discomfort of the patient, like pain, and yet the treatment leads to the death of the patient.3 The issue of euthanasia or what may also be termed assisted suicide has become more forceful in society due to the enhanced life spans that advances in medical science have bestowed on humankind. Death is something that humans prefer to avoid, yet, due to the aging processes and diseases; it is quite possible that for some individuals’ extension of life through medical advancements is no longer a suitable because of issues