From the Guidelines
Euthanasia is defined as an act in which a physician intentionally terminates the life of a patient, such as by lethal injection, with the purpose of relieving pain or other suffering. This definition is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which emphasizes the distinction between euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and patient refusal of life-sustaining treatment 1.
Key Points to Consider
- Euthanasia is ethically, legally, and clinically different from patient refusal of life-sustaining treatment through the withdrawal or withholding of treatment.
- The term "euthanasia" refers specifically to the intentional act by a physician to end a patient's life, not the patient's own act to end their life, which is considered suicide or physician-assisted suicide.
- The distinction between these terms is crucial for ethical, legal, and clinical clarity, as noted in the position paper by the American College of Physicians 1.
Clinical Implications
- Understanding the definition of euthanasia is essential for healthcare providers to navigate complex end-of-life care discussions and decisions.
- The legal status of euthanasia varies significantly around the world, with some countries legalizing it and others maintaining its illegality, as discussed in the context of international laws and regulations 1.
- The ethical principles guiding medical practice, including beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice, play a critical role in shaping attitudes and practices around euthanasia 1.
From the Research
Definition of Euthanasia
- Euthanasia is defined as the act or lack of action to mercifully shorten or end the life of a suffering individual to help them 2.
- It is a subject of permanent discussion, mainly about its ethical appropriateness and legalization in different countries, including many ethical, legal, social, political, spiritual, religious, and public health issues 3.
- The term euthanasia is often misunderstood, and its meaning can be confused with other end-of-life concepts, such as assisted suicide, withdrawal or foregoing of therapy, treatment rejection, palliative sedation, and dignified death 3.
Key Aspects of Euthanasia
- Euthanasia is not a legal category, and the everyday expressions of active and passive euthanasia are simplifications that cover actions of different purposes 2.
- The concept of euthanasia is related to the clinical events happening around the sick-bed and is not complete in the legal and medical literature 2.
- Euthanasia is differentiated from other end-of-life decisions, such as withdrawal of ineffective and life-sustaining treatments, letting go of the patient, contra-indication of therapy escalation, use of palliative therapy, pain-relieving treatment, compromise medicine, consideration of reanimation, and choosing cost-effective therapy 2.
Ethical Considerations
- The goals of medicine, including relieving pain and suffering, should be accomplished through morally acceptable means, not euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide 4.
- Compassion plays an important role in the patient-physician relationship, but it does not produce an objective, reliable, and applicable standard to appraise the ethical assessment of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide 4.
- The ethical assessment of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should consider the dedication of medicine to people's health and welfare and the requirement of compassion to help suffering individuals in a constructive course of action 4.