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Euthanasia

 


The term ‘Euthanasia’ is derived from the Greek words which literally means “good death” (Eu= Good; Thanatos=Death). The term was coined by the great historian Suetonius, who described the way King Augustus opted for quick, painful death without suffering.

According to Oxford English dictionary Euthanasia means, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or a person who is in irreversible coma.

How active euthanasia differs from passive euthanasia is that in the former, death is brought about by an act – for example, a person is killed by being given an overdose of pain killers. In passive euthanasia, death is brought by omission. In other words, by not carrying out any  medical intervention to save the person‘s life.

Active Euthanasia- When a person directly and deliberately does something which results in the death of patient. Here specific steps/procedures are undertaken (by the third party) like the administration of a lethal drug. This is a crime in India (and in most parts of the world) under the Indian Penal Code Section 302 or 304. There are countries which have passed legislation permitting assisted suicide and active euthanasia. The differences between them are in the former, patient himself administers lethal medications and in the later doctor or some other person does it.


Passive Euthanasia- It involves withholding of medical treatment or withdrawal from life support system for continuance of life (like removing the heart– lung machine from a patient in coma). Hence in passive euthanasia death is brought about by an act of omission. Euthanasia can be further classified as ‘voluntary’ where euthanasia is carried out at the request of the patient and ‘non-voluntary’ where the person is unable to ask for euthanasia (perhaps because he is unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate), or to make a meaningful choice between living and dying and a surrogate person takes the decision on his behalf. Legally speaking voluntary euthanasia is illegal as it can be interpreted as attempt to commit suicide which is punishable under Indian Penal Code section 309. The same was advocated by the judgment from the Constitution Bench of the Apex Court in the year 1996 in Gian Kaur vs. State of Punjab where it stated that the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution does not include the right to die.

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