Euthanasia, or What Is Generally

Euthanasia, or what is generally referred to as physician-assisted suicide, has been an issue of heated debate within the United States during the last few decades. The word of euthanasia is rooted in Greek, meaning "good death," and is regarded as the practice of killing an individual in a painless manner for merciful reasons, in order to end his or her suffering (Euthanasia pp). This term includes assisting those who are suffering to commit suicide, especially when assisted by a physician (Euthanasia pp). Physician-assisted suicide usually involves what is called a terminal sedation, which is a combination of medically inducing a deep sleep, while at the same time terminated all other treatment, with the exception of medication for symptom control, such as analgesia (Euthanasia pp). Although this is considered to be euthanasia by many, under current law and medical practice it is considered a form of palliative care (Euthanasia pp).

Most advocates of euthanasia believe that it should be a voluntary process that requires informed consent, and should only involve those individuals who are terminally ill and in great pain and suffering (Euthanasia pp). Those who are against it, feel that the entire issue is subject to unethical grounds, because it is considered the first step toward compulsory euthanasia, much as society accepts now for animals who are suffering or whose medical care is too costly financially (Euthanasia pp).

In 2003, the Netherlands had 1626 cases that were officially reported as euthanasia in the sense of a physician causing death (Euthanasia pp). Usually the sedative sodium thiopental is administered intravenously in order to induce a deep coma, then a muscle relaxant is administered to stop the breathing and cause death (Euthanasia pp). The most reported cases involved cancer patients, and in the majority of the cases, the procedure was conducted at home (Euthanasia pp).

Oregon is the only state that has legalized physician-assisted suicide, as residents voted for it at the Oregon Ballot Measure 16 in 1994, and voted against repealing it at the Oregon Ballot Measure 51 in 1997, however the state law has been attacked by a variety of organizations, as well as the United States government (Euthanasia pp). In 2003, some forty-two cases of physician-assisted suicide were reported in Oregon, which involved twelve cases where the physician was actually present, and all by drinking a barbiturate potion (Euthanasia pp).