Euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an 'irreversible coma’. There are different names for euthanasia, like, 'mercy killing', 'assisted suicide', and 'happy release'.
There are four different types of euthanasia such as active, passive, indirect, physician-assisted suicide. Many countries are against euthanasia, however, some countries believe that it is happy death.
From a utilitarian viewpoint, justifying euthanasia is a question of showing that allowing people to have a good death, at a time of their choosing, will make them happier than the pain from their illness, the loss of dignity and the distress of anticipating a slow, painful death.
Active Euthanasia:
Active euthanasia, in which a Physician deliberately does something which
results in the death of patients.
Passive Euthanasia:
Passive euthanasia, in which the patient’s life is taken away indirectly by
withholding medical treatment or withdrawing life support system. Passive
euthanasia is not illegal in India; provided certain standard safeguards are
present as demonstrated by the Supreme Court in Aruna Shanbaug case.
Pain:
An ill patient can be relieved from the excreting pain. However, if such a law
is passed, even moderately ill patients might choose this path, opening the
flood-gates for misuse by relatives.
Many people suffer from terrible pain. Although people think that life is a god's
gift, we are no one to take a life, however, to suffer that pain is not that
easy. Many countries are against this law because they believe that it will be
misused.
Hospitality:
Instead of living a hopeless life, euthanasia will free hospital facilities which
can be used for other patients. Conversely, having critically ill-patients can
lead to important research and discoveries. Also, it can be a source of income
for hospitals.
During this unprecedented COVID pandemic, coronavirus cases are increasing day by day, and hospitals are full, we can vacant that place for those who want to live their life.
Many people who want to live their lives and to realize their full potential are unable to do because hospitals are full and doctors are unable to give treatments.
In such circumstances, it is crystal clear that we should save a life which is more important rather than booking a bed for them who don’t want to live. Living lives but unable to do anything is terrible pain for terribly ill patients.
Relatives:
Euthanasia, for terribly ill patients, will be a boon because relatives might
traumatize him/her.
Subsequently, according to some researchers conducted in the Scandinavian countries; relatives harboring the hope of recovery might be traumatized by his/her termination of life in this way, that is, euthanasia could be predicted as a curse.
Almost everywhere euthanasia is defined as a “kind death”. Euthanasia is a
way of ending the lives of people suffering from incurable or severe illness.
During passive, life support is turned off and the patient dies.
The doctor doesn’t do anything for the patient to die but passively influences
his death, for instance, he may stop giving the patient medication to make
his life longer or switch off the breathing equipment.
During active euthanasia, doctors intervene in the process of depriving the
patient of life. The doctor either injects medicine or influences death in another way. Sometimes, taking a life is kindness.
The usage of the two types of euthanasia can be seen in case of Jack Kevorkian, who is known by the name of “Doctor Death”. With the help of the machine he had invented, Jack would expose suffering of people from severe ailments to euthanasia, with their consent of course.
Financials:
Life is the most important but we cannot ignore that finance and savings
also play an authentic role. Maintaining terminal ill patients may break the
financial backbone of that household.
Moreover, sometimes, maintaining their lives will employ specialist doctors and well-trained nurses and exhibit their medical skills.
There was a person in one of the Scandinavian countries who lived for one
hundred and three years. He was mentally, physically, financial fit but he
did not want to live his life. He lived his life, he enjoyed and had done everything that he wanted but, he did not want to live anymore.
Apparently, he was feeling bored and dull because there was nothing that entertained him, furthermore, he asked for euthanasia, which is not wrong at all. After living life and achieving things, what is the purpose of living a dull life.
Life should be meaningful rather than being happy. Some people have lived their life and are fully satisfied, so, it is a better approach to make a law in support of this decision in the constitutions.
Hence, there are many misuses of this law which are predictable and practical, however, there are some reasons by which it can be proved as a prudent decision.
Written by - Vinayak Mehta
Edited by - Sandhya R
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