Euthanasia refers to the practice of ending
a life in a painless manner, usually by lethal injection or withdrawing
life-supporting treatment. Assisted
suicide differs to euthanasia as the doctor merely provides the means of
committing suicide. The debate about
whether people should be allowed to determine when they die is a complex and
long running one. People with
Parkinson’s have been among advocates for the ‘right to die’ although there is
no data to indicate how many have taken this route.
Apart from religious objections, there are
legal problems to be overcome in ensuring that legislation to allow euthanasia
and assisted suicide will not lead to unnecessary deaths. At the time of
writing (2011) euthanasia is legal only in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and assisted suicide in Albania and a few states in America. Whilst assisted suicide is not legal in Switzerland,
doctors who do assist are not prosecuted.
This issue is emotive and controversial and
is likely to remain so. The challenge for society is to improve symptom control
and address the total needs of those who may consider the possibility of
euthanasia.
For more information on organisations
involved in euthanasia and assisted suicide, as well as further debate on the
issue, the following links may be helpful:
