The word ‘euthanasia’ has had many different meanings throughout the years, making its history a reflection of the transient nature of society in how it views its moral obligations. Euthanasia is the deliberate and intentional killing of a human being by a direct action, such as a lethal injection, or by the failure to perform even the most basic medical care such as the provision of nutrition and hydration, necessary to maintain life. Euthanasia has a Greek origin: eu (easy, happy, painless), thanatos (death).
The term apparently first appeared in the English language in the early seventeenth century in its original meaning – a gentle, easy death. The term then came to mean the doctrine or theory that in certain circumstances a person should be painlessly killed, and, more recently has come to mean the act or practice of bringing about a gentle and easy death.
In its broad sense, euthanasia embraces a variety of situations, some where the patient is capable of consenting to his death, others where he obviously is not. Thus, two generations ago, H. J. Rose defined the euthanasia circumstances as ‘when owing to disease, senility, or the like, a person’s life has ceased to be either agreeable or useful’… a current popular meaning of the term is painless death ‘releasing’ the patient from severe physical suffering. Netherlands, first country to legalize euthanasia Heated debate…
Euthanasia now legal in Holland – April 1, 2002 In 1935 the first group that was for the legalization of euthanasia was formed. It was called the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and was started by a group of doctors in London (The Voluntary Euthanasia Society).
The Term Paper on Terminally Ill Euthanasia Death Patient
Euthanasia in the United States Every year two million people die in North America. Chronic illness, such as cancer or heart disease, accounts for two of every three deaths. It is estimated that approximately seventy percent of these people die after a decision is made to forgo life-sustaining treatment (Choice in Dying). In America and all around the world, the ongoing debate is whether patients ...
The first society established in the United States came shortly after in 1938. It was called the Hemlock Society and it now consists of more than 67, 000 members. The purpose of this society is to support your decision to die and to offer support when you are ready to die (Humphrey 186).
This society also believes that a person must have believed in euthanasia for a certain amount of time before you can make the request for death An Australian doctor has disclosed details of his controversial ‘suicide machine’ at a conference on euthanasia in California.
But Dr Philip Nitsch ke, 55, was unable to show the prototype of the carbon monoxide generator as customs officials confiscated it at Sydney airport.
