Medical Ethics: Euthanasia (Part 1)

Recently, I have been reading this book, Medical Ethics by Tony Hope.

In short, this book covers a variety of ethical issues and controversial problems held in our current society, weighing up both pros and cons by using logic and reasoning.







In this post I will be defining euthanasia, UK's stance on euthanasia and Netherland's law on euthanasia.

So, what is exactly is euthanasia? 

The word euthanasia itself comes from the Greek words eu thanatos, meaning good or easy death.
Euthanasia can be further divided into these categories:

• Active euthanasia

This occurs when someone (X) performs an action which directly results in person Y's death.

E.g. administration an overdose of legal medication

• Passive euthanasia

This is when someone (X) withholds or withdraws life-prolonging treatement

E.g. Failure to resuscitate,  halting medication

It can also be divided into these categories:

• Voluntary euthanasia

Patient Y competently requests death him/herself.

• Involuntary euthanasia

Death is against patient Y's wishes however, person X will either allow or impose death onto Y.

• Non-voluntary euthanasia

Patient Y does not have the ability (not competent) to express their preference

E.g. a severely newborn baby 

It should also be pointed that that although both euthanasia and suicide have different definitions. To distinguish the two, suicide can be further divided into:

• Suicide

Y intentionally kills himself

• Assisted suicide

Person X helps Y to kill himself

• Physician- assisted suicide

Physician X helps Y to kill himself

UK's stance on euthanasia?

The English law currently placed in the UK states that both active euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. The Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt in England and Wales.
In 2015, the assisted dying bill has been rejected by MPs in England and in Wales (118-330) despite public votes supporting the change of the bill.

This leads to some patients with terminal illnesses to travel to countries such as the Netherlands to receive either euthanasia (active) or physician assisted suicide in end of life clinics. Despite it being the first country to legalise this practice, there are strict boundaries to be maintained and exceeding these boundaries will make it a criminal offence.

The simplified requirements of active euthanasia in Netherlands:

1. Patient must face a future of unbearable, interminable suffering
2. Request must be voluntary and well-considered
3. Doctor and patient must be convinced there is no other solutions
4. Second medical opinion must be obtained and life must be ended in a medically appropriate way

One point to note is that for patients who are unable to express their wishes e.g. in comatose state, a written declaration of the patient's will will also be recognised and validated as consent. It is also currently illegal in Netherlands to deliberately end the life of a severely ill newborn.

Websites used:

http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/press-release/parliament-ignores-public-votes-assisted-dying-bill/
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/assisteddyingno2.html
http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/site/holland-background/
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/11/assisted-dying-dutch-end-of-life-netherlands-unbearable-suffering
https://www.rnw.org/archive/faq-euthanasia-netherlands

Books used:
Medical Ethics, A Very Short Introduction- Tony Hope