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1. Abstract While doing the research on this paper I tried do find a precise definition of what euthanasia is. I came accros a lot of opinons and belifs, not mentioning the complet “it’s the power of God only…” theory that is irelavent to this case, but maybe worth of mentioning as a historical fact that constantly disaproves the posibility of euthanasia.So the defining of the esence of this specific topic is quite dificult becouse of the multiplicity of different views and opinions that different grops of people have. Euthanasia has caused considreble controversy over the years. Modern technology allows the maintaince of life through the use of life supporting systems long after bodies would have seased normal functioning. This capability raises an important question: is the maintance of life by artifitial means justifiable? Allthough everyone who has thought of this question agrees that is moraly acceptable to cease treatment at some point and allow people to die, the decision may not as clear-cut when it relates to mercy killing. 2. Forms of euthanasia Understanding euthanasia as a process must begin with a form of a kind, so one of the definitions is that euthanasia is “a painless killing, especialy to end a painful and incurable desease; mercy killing”. The word 'euthanasia' comes from the Greek -- Eu, "good", and Thanatos, "death". The Greek term euthanasia originated between 500 and 200 B.C. Plato ando Socrates argued that suicide and assisted suicide were acceptible if it ment a more peaceful and less painfull death (Gorman and Roberts, 1996). Today distinctions have developed between passive and active euthhanasia. Active euthanasia is considered an intentional act that causes death (e.g. a lethal injection of potassium chloride) whereas passive euthanasia is an intentional act to avoid the prolongation of life (e.g. removal of a life-support system). Altghough both procedures have the same consequences, it is the difference between killing people and merely letting people die. Some people insist that the distinctions are significant. Others claim that the distinctions are larglu irelavant to the major issue that is hestant death of a suffering and terminaly ill person. The view here is that while the distinctions raise imprtant questions about the sircumstances the major issue is wheter or not speeding up a person’s detath is ever justifiable. Two additional concepts are relevant to the discussion of euthanasia. First, voluntary euthanasia refers to mercy killing that takes place with the explicit and voluntary consent of the patient, either verbally or in a written document such as a living will. Second, nonvoluntary euthanasia refers to the mercy killing of a patient who is unconscious, comatose, or otherwise unable to explicitly make his intentions known. In these cases it is often family members who make the request.
Approximate Word count = 1832
Approximate Pages = 7.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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