The word euthanasia comes from the Greek European Unionmeaning “good” and thanatosmeaning “death”. Therefore, the union of both terms in one word would be equivalent to “good death”. There are different types of euthanasia, which in principle operate according to the context and characteristics in which they are applied.
Euthanasia is characterized because it is caused by the health personnel and by the existence of a compassionate or liberating intention. Indeed, and as they postulate The experts, its purpose is to hasten a patient’s death to avoid further suffering.
Euthanasia is called mercy killing if death is sought as a means of depriving the patient of pain, a physical deformation or a painful old age. However, if death is sought to free the family or society from the burden, it is called eugenics euthanasiaeconomic or social.
types of euthanasia
Second the specialists, euthanasia is distinct from medically assisted suicide. Despite this, the boundaries separating both practices are widespread; even if legally they are not. Certainly in very few countries euthanasia is legal (Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, New Zealand, Colombia and Canada).
In countries like Germany, Switzerland and several US states, medically assisted suicide is legal. In a dozen countries, the suspension of patient care and treatment is legal, an indirect or passive form of assisted suicide. At this point we can distinguish two types of euthanasia depending on the means used.
By means of employee
- Active euthanasia: deliberate action aimed at killing. Usually through an agent that is introduced into the body.
- passive euthanasia: in this, death is caused by the omission of the proportionate means necessary to sustain life, to cause death.
You can also classify voluntary and involuntary euthanasiadepending on whether the patient requests it or not. Involuntary euthanasia is applied by a guardian who is immediately responsible for the patient.
Even if it is with the victim’s consent, euthanasia is always caused by other people. For this reason, It is a murder with certain characteristics.
If he himself intentionally causes the death, it is referred to as suicide. Rather, let’s talk about assisted suicide when it is the doctor who supplies a lethal drug to the patient, but it is the patient who administers it to himself.
What euthanasia is not
It’s not euthanasia the application of drugs to relieve pain or other symptoms in a terminally ill person, even if this indirectly and inevitably produces a certain shortening of life. Care must always be taken not to prevent the patient from acting freely according to his last will.
Besides, it will be patient consent is required in the event that the means used lead to blunting or loss of consciousness.
It’s not euthanasia withdrawal of extraordinary or disproportionate means artificially prolong the life of a terminally ill person. In this case the positive action of killing and the possibility of a natural life are absent.
It is the doctor or the ethics committees of some hospitals, which they must determine which means can be considered proportionate and which are disproportionate for a patient. They will also take into account your specific circumstances.
Often The experts use the term assisted dying to refer to both medically assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia (this type only). Still, the terminology of the terms is widespread and the real distinction is given by the legal framework of each country (where one term or another is preferred to refer to the same action).
Euthanasia today
However, there are a number of means that today are commonly considered ordinary or proportionate. Hydration and nutrition are considered basic minimum care.
some calls “orthothanasia” to death in due timewithout shortening life and without unnecessarily lengthening it by extraordinary or disproportionate means.
This lengthening of life through disproportionate means is known as “therapeutic cruelty” or “dystanasia” and may be illegal as indicated by Ethical code.
The “diagnosis of death” is an important point. Given that since the diagnosis of clinical death is established, there is no problem of euthanasia.
In this way, organs can be taken from the corpse for transplantation. which can be done later comply with the relevant legal requirements.
The irreversible cessation of encephalic and/or cardiorespiratory functions it is enough to confirm death of a person.
type of patients
The type of patients in which euthanasia is most frequently considered are those who are in a terminal situation. The term “incurable” refers to the inability to improve or overcome the disease.
A terminally ill person is one in which death is predicted to be certain. Also, it will happen in a not too distant time frame, up to six months, according to some authors.
The therapeutic medical effort is abandoned to focus on the symptom relief, also in supporting both the patient and his family.
The terminally ill are prime candidates for euthanasia. However, treatable patients in critical condition do not present much difficulty.
Another concept is that of persistent vegetative state (EVP), patients in this state belong to the category of incurably incapable. While not necessarily terminal, they are patients with permanent loss of consciousness, in an irreversible coma.
Euthanasia, a reality
Despite ongoing discussions about euthanasia, it is a fact that in many countries of the world it is legal under certain circumstances. It’s an inevitable reality, so a thorough understanding of this practice is important. Also, is the debate about the moral and ethical issues behind the types of euthanasia.
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