In 1990, 22,500 patients were dead due to non-treatment accounting for as much as 17.5% of all deaths. More than 1000 patients who did not fully satisfy the criteria for euthanasia were given lethal injections. In one case Dr. Chabot, a psychiatrist assisted a physically fit but chronically depressed patient die by giving lethal injection. [Chao et.al, 2002] Conclusion

Human life is a 'gift of god' and it is therefore not within the rights of a man to put an end to life including his own life. Improving the quality of care and 'Prolonging life' should be the main goal of medical treatment. Palliative care should have more focus on better management of pain and symptoms. Clearly ethical, moral and medical obligations do not permit the withdrawal of treatment or hydration and nutrition in a palliative setting. Instead of supporting active and passive forms of euthanasia, more efforts should be focused on improving end of life care. From a purely religious perspective as well, there is no place for euthanasia as there is no moral authority for man to dabble with divinely endowed life. As evidence from the Netherlands indicate legalizing euthanasia is not a good solution and could result in severe abuse that could undermine the sanctity of medical practice. We risk ending up in a medical and moral crisis if...

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