Search This Blog

Introduction to Euthanasia

Recently, we might have heard a case of Mercy Killing or Euthanasia (Greek: good death),which was turned down by Supreme Court of India through its judgment in the Aruna Shanbaug case.  Aruna Shanbaug was a nurse working in KEM hospital in Mumbai who was sexually assaulted by a sweeper. The incidence left the nurse in a vegetative state since 1973.

 
Euthanasia: the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. (The key word here is "intentional". If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia)
Voluntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed has requested to be killed.
Non-voluntary: When the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent.
Involuntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed made an expressed wish to the contrary.
Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide."
Euthanasia By Action: Intentionally causing a person's death by performing an action such as by giving a lethal injection.
Euthanasia By Omission: Intentionally causing death by not providing necessary and ordinary (usual and customary) care or food and water.

What Euthanasia is NOT: There is no euthanasia unless the death is intentionally caused by what was done or not done. Thus, some medical actions that are often labeled "passive euthanasia" are no form of euthanasia, since the intention to take life is lacking. These acts include not commencing treatment that would not provide a benefit to the patient, withdrawing treatment that has been shown to be ineffective, too burdensome or is unwanted, and the giving of high doses of pain-killers that may endanger life, when they have been shown to be necessary. All those are part of good medical practice, endorsed by law, when they are properly carried out.

To know more about Euthanasia and debates revolving mercy killing, visit this link: http://www.euthanasia.com/

Related links:

No comments:

Biodata, Resume and CV

Biodata, Resume and CV

Social Issues Headline Animator

Popular Posts


free counters

My Headlines


Disclaimer:

This blog is designed to provide and encourage access within the social work community to sources of current and comprehensive information. Therefore, Indiansocialworker.blogspot.com itself places no restrictions on the use or distribution of the data contained therein.

Some Indiansocialworker.blogspot.com web pages may provide links to other Internet sites for the convenience of users. Indiansocialworker.blogspot.com is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does Indiansocialworker.blogspot.com endorse, warrant, or guarantee the products, services, or information described or offered at these other Internet sites. Users cannot assume that the external sites will abide by the same Privacy Policy to which Indiansocialworker.blogspot.com adheres. It is the responsibility of the user to examine the copyright and licensing restrictions of linked pages and to secure all necessary permissions.

- Indian Social Worker Team