Still I personally think, that the countries who have not legalized the option of euthanasia, should legalize it. Just like Japan, they must be made to follow certain rules and regulations when it comes to getting an approval for practicing euthanasia.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Best Practice.
When I read the different laws followed by different countries, I personally think that the laws of Japan are the best practice. They have set legal framework for whether passive or active euthanasia. This set of framework when I think about it, is very to the point. There is no way that a person or a family might misuse this option of euthanasia.
Euthanasia Laws By Country
Efforts made to change the laws and policies on euthanasia in this century has had limited success in different countries. Policies have been developed by NGOs, mostly medical and advocacy associations.
Australia:
Euthanasia is illegal as of now in Australia. It was legal in a few northern territories of Australia, after the Rights of terminally ill Act 1995 was passed. Before this law was passed, Dr Philip Nitschke, was said to have helped three cases by using a machine called deliverance machine. An organization called as the Exit International was founded by Dr. Philip Nitschke, who wanted the government of Australia to bring back laws legalizing euthanasia.
Belgium:
Parliament of this country legalized euthanasia in the year 2002.
Canada:
Euthanasia in Canada is either passive or active euthanasia. Both forms are not legal in Canada.
Passive is the with holding of life preserving procedures, while active is nothing but assisted suicide.
In Ontario, Canada patients do not have to be informed if they are deemed 'incapable', even if they speak or respond, by the staff. Family members with the medical staff will have to decide what to do, taking in to account factors, including written wishes of the patient. A living will is something that is a clear indication of your wishes and may help your family and the staff to reach a decision.Patients and families have authorized passive euthanasia and no punishment is to be given to the doctor doing so.
Section 241(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada, state that it is indictable offense to aid or abet suicide, British Columbia Supreme Court struck down the section, arguing that it is imposed unconscionably discriminatory burdens on severely disabled individuals that were not valid under Sections 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on June 15, 2012.
( Charter of rights and freedom of Canada, Criminal Code of Canada, 'British Columbia Court kills Assisted suicide Ban' Courthouse News. 2012 June 18).
India:
India has legalized Passive Euthanasia. On 7th March 2011, the Supreme Court of India legalized passive euthanasia by means of withdrawal of life support, only to patients who are in a vegetative state. But Active Euthanasia is still illegal.
('India Joins nations in legalizing passive euthanasia'. The Hindu. 2011 March 7. Retrieved 2011 March 8)
Israel:
Active Euthanasia is not allowed by the Israeli laws or the Jewish laws. While Passive Euthanasia is Allowed under under a few cases by the Israeli Laws but not at all by the Jewish Laws.
Japan:
The government of japan, had not so far set out any rules to be followed for euthanasia. As a matter of fact, the rules for euthanasia has been set out only by two court cases, one in Nagoya 1962(passive euthanasia) and other in incident at Tokai University 1995(active euthanasia). At present there is a legal framework for implementing euthanasia in Japan.
Condition to be met for passive euthanasia;
Luxembourg:
Parliament of this nation passed a bill legalizing euthanasia in 2008 on the 8th February. In 2009 march 19, the bill passed a second reading, to decriminalize euthanasia making it the third nation after the Netherlands and Belgium. An approval from two doctors and a panel of experts is required to end lives of terminally ill patients.
Netherlands:
A law legalizing euthanasia and physician assisted suicide was passed in 2002 in Netherlands. The law codifies the 20 year old convention of not prosecuting doctors who have committed euthanasia in very specific cases, under very specific circumstances.
The Groningen Protocol was developed in 2004 September, which sets out the criteria to be met for carrying out child euthanasia without the physician being prosecuted.('The groningen protocol-- euthanasia in severely ill newborns'. 2005 March)
United Kingdom:
The United Kingdom does not support euthanasia. Any person found to be assisting a suicide or attempting to do so, is breaking the law and can be convicted. Between 2003 and 2006, Lord Joffe made four attempts to pass a bill to legalize euthanasia in The United Kingdom, but all were rejected. In 1992, Dr. Nigel Cox is the only doctor to have been convicted of attempted euthanasia, and has been given a conviction of 12 month suspended sentence. (Nigel Cox Conviction)
United States:
In the most parts of the United States, Active euthanasia is illegal. Patients in the United States retain the rights to refuse medical treatment and to receive appropriate management of pain at their request, even if the patients choices hasten their death. Life support may be withdrawn under specified circumstances and , under federal law and most state laws only with the consent of the patient, if the patient is not in a state to give the consent, then by the consent of the legal guardian.
While Active Euthanasia, is illegal all over the United State, Assisted Suicide is legal in four state: Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana. ('Physician assisted suicide legal in Montana, court rules'. American Medical News)
Ref: Euthanasia laws by Country. Wikipedia.
YOUthanasia. Criminal Brief. Retrieved 2009 August 27
Assisted Dying Bill - latest. BBC News Online.
Two Decades of Research on Euthanasia from The Netherlands.
Euthanasia: The approach of the courts in Israel and Jewish Law principles.
Australia:
Euthanasia is illegal as of now in Australia. It was legal in a few northern territories of Australia, after the Rights of terminally ill Act 1995 was passed. Before this law was passed, Dr Philip Nitschke, was said to have helped three cases by using a machine called deliverance machine. An organization called as the Exit International was founded by Dr. Philip Nitschke, who wanted the government of Australia to bring back laws legalizing euthanasia.
Belgium:
Parliament of this country legalized euthanasia in the year 2002.
Canada:
Euthanasia in Canada is either passive or active euthanasia. Both forms are not legal in Canada.
Passive is the with holding of life preserving procedures, while active is nothing but assisted suicide.
In Ontario, Canada patients do not have to be informed if they are deemed 'incapable', even if they speak or respond, by the staff. Family members with the medical staff will have to decide what to do, taking in to account factors, including written wishes of the patient. A living will is something that is a clear indication of your wishes and may help your family and the staff to reach a decision.Patients and families have authorized passive euthanasia and no punishment is to be given to the doctor doing so.
Section 241(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada, state that it is indictable offense to aid or abet suicide, British Columbia Supreme Court struck down the section, arguing that it is imposed unconscionably discriminatory burdens on severely disabled individuals that were not valid under Sections 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on June 15, 2012.
( Charter of rights and freedom of Canada, Criminal Code of Canada, 'British Columbia Court kills Assisted suicide Ban' Courthouse News. 2012 June 18).
India:
India has legalized Passive Euthanasia. On 7th March 2011, the Supreme Court of India legalized passive euthanasia by means of withdrawal of life support, only to patients who are in a vegetative state. But Active Euthanasia is still illegal.
('India Joins nations in legalizing passive euthanasia'. The Hindu. 2011 March 7. Retrieved 2011 March 8)
Israel:
Active Euthanasia is not allowed by the Israeli laws or the Jewish laws. While Passive Euthanasia is Allowed under under a few cases by the Israeli Laws but not at all by the Jewish Laws.
Japan:
The government of japan, had not so far set out any rules to be followed for euthanasia. As a matter of fact, the rules for euthanasia has been set out only by two court cases, one in Nagoya 1962(passive euthanasia) and other in incident at Tokai University 1995(active euthanasia). At present there is a legal framework for implementing euthanasia in Japan.
Condition to be met for passive euthanasia;
- must be suffering from incurable disease, and must be in the final stages of the disease.
- must have consent for stopping treatment, consent must be prior to death. If not able to get consent, testimony of family is acceptable.
- must stop only medical treatment for the patient.
- must be suffering an unbearable pain.
- must be inevitable death.
- must give consent, family testimony is not acceptable.
- other sources of pain relief must have been exhausted by the doctors.
Luxembourg:
Parliament of this nation passed a bill legalizing euthanasia in 2008 on the 8th February. In 2009 march 19, the bill passed a second reading, to decriminalize euthanasia making it the third nation after the Netherlands and Belgium. An approval from two doctors and a panel of experts is required to end lives of terminally ill patients.
Netherlands:
A law legalizing euthanasia and physician assisted suicide was passed in 2002 in Netherlands. The law codifies the 20 year old convention of not prosecuting doctors who have committed euthanasia in very specific cases, under very specific circumstances.
The Groningen Protocol was developed in 2004 September, which sets out the criteria to be met for carrying out child euthanasia without the physician being prosecuted.('The groningen protocol-- euthanasia in severely ill newborns'. 2005 March)
United Kingdom:
The United Kingdom does not support euthanasia. Any person found to be assisting a suicide or attempting to do so, is breaking the law and can be convicted. Between 2003 and 2006, Lord Joffe made four attempts to pass a bill to legalize euthanasia in The United Kingdom, but all were rejected. In 1992, Dr. Nigel Cox is the only doctor to have been convicted of attempted euthanasia, and has been given a conviction of 12 month suspended sentence. (Nigel Cox Conviction)
United States:
In the most parts of the United States, Active euthanasia is illegal. Patients in the United States retain the rights to refuse medical treatment and to receive appropriate management of pain at their request, even if the patients choices hasten their death. Life support may be withdrawn under specified circumstances and , under federal law and most state laws only with the consent of the patient, if the patient is not in a state to give the consent, then by the consent of the legal guardian.
While Active Euthanasia, is illegal all over the United State, Assisted Suicide is legal in four state: Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana. ('Physician assisted suicide legal in Montana, court rules'. American Medical News)
Ref: Euthanasia laws by Country. Wikipedia.
YOUthanasia. Criminal Brief. Retrieved 2009 August 27
Assisted Dying Bill - latest. BBC News Online.
Two Decades of Research on Euthanasia from The Netherlands.
Euthanasia: The approach of the courts in Israel and Jewish Law principles.
Arguments for and against Euthanasia.
The debate over euthanasia in countries has centered on euthanasia within regulated health care systems. In some cases, judicial decisions, legislation, and regulations have made euthanasia an option for patients and their guardians. Here are a few reasons given as for and against euthanasia;
For:
For:
- Emphasize that choice is fundamental principle
- The pain and suffering a person feels during a disease, can be incomprehensible to a person who has not gone through it. Without considering the physical pain, it is often difficult for patients to overcome the emotional pain of losing their independence.
- People who have witnessed their loved ones suffer and die, know how difficult it is and opt that the law has to be changed when it to comes to opting euthanasia for loved ones.
- Due to increasing population, the space in hospitals are getting lesser and lesser to keep patients admitted in hospitals for long periods of time, and also these hospitals are expensive. for the economic costs, it should be allowed.
- Compromise the roles of health care professional employees, especially doctors.
- Christians consider euthanasia as some or all types to be morally unacceptable, because it is treated as a type of murder or suicide, the morality of which is an active subject of debate.
- It is believed that, a sick person disease is curable, instead of killing, might be able to find a cure to the disease so that the person is cured.
- It is believed that, the patients who are terminally ill, may be forced to consent to euthanasia since they do not want to be a burden on their loved ones, in ways of finance.
- Competence of a mentally ill person is difficult to determine, in order to get a consent or take steps for euthanasia.
Types we know of..
I didn't know we had different types and methods of euthanasia that could be done.
Animal Euthanasia: It is known as the act of humanely putting an animal to rest from its pain and distress. The procedures that are used here, may be some what similar to slaughter or pest control, but they are not the same. When euthanasia is carried on domesticated animals, it is generally referred to in Euphemisms like "put out of its misery" or "put down".
There are different methods used to follow this process on animals. Intravenous Anesthetic, kind of a high dose injection, given, after which the animal goes unconscious, and then respiratory and cardiac arrest follows, and the animal is put to a peaceful and quick death. Inhalants, process is generally used for smaller animals, where they are kept in sealed chambers where high levels of anesthetic gas is introduced. Cervical Dislocation, process where no equipment is required, can be done with just a pair of gloves to hold the animal. Used for very small animals, like mice. It is the displacement of the neck, which causes instant death. Intracardiac Injection, process which is not followed, but it is process where the drugs are directly injected to the heart chamber of the animal. Shooting, The process used for large animals like, horses and cows. Free bullet, Used for horses, a shot in the forehead directed down the spine, resulting in instant death. Captive Bolt, used for cattle and livestock. Bolt is fired to the forehead causing disruption in the spine and stunning the cattle, leading to prolonged death. This method is not allowed because it does not give an instant death.
Child Euthanasia: this is know as the controversial form of Non Voluntary Euthanasia. It is a process only used on children who are severely ill or have major birth defects. The idea of child euthanasia is illegal in Netherlands.
Voluntary Euthanasia: Ending a life in a painless manner. This form has been in controversy for quite a while now. In 2009, a few forms of voluntary euthanasia have been legalized in countries like, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the US states of Oregon. ( Wikipedia, Voluntary euthanasia 2009)
Non-Voluntary Euthanasia: Commonly known as Mercy Killing. It is performed when the concerned person is unavailable, as when in a persistent vegetative state.
Involuntary Euthanasia: performed on a person who is capable of making decisions, but was not asked for a consent, or a person who does not choose to die. This type is opposed and regraded as a crime.
Animal Euthanasia: It is known as the act of humanely putting an animal to rest from its pain and distress. The procedures that are used here, may be some what similar to slaughter or pest control, but they are not the same. When euthanasia is carried on domesticated animals, it is generally referred to in Euphemisms like "put out of its misery" or "put down".
There are different methods used to follow this process on animals. Intravenous Anesthetic, kind of a high dose injection, given, after which the animal goes unconscious, and then respiratory and cardiac arrest follows, and the animal is put to a peaceful and quick death. Inhalants, process is generally used for smaller animals, where they are kept in sealed chambers where high levels of anesthetic gas is introduced. Cervical Dislocation, process where no equipment is required, can be done with just a pair of gloves to hold the animal. Used for very small animals, like mice. It is the displacement of the neck, which causes instant death. Intracardiac Injection, process which is not followed, but it is process where the drugs are directly injected to the heart chamber of the animal. Shooting, The process used for large animals like, horses and cows. Free bullet, Used for horses, a shot in the forehead directed down the spine, resulting in instant death. Captive Bolt, used for cattle and livestock. Bolt is fired to the forehead causing disruption in the spine and stunning the cattle, leading to prolonged death. This method is not allowed because it does not give an instant death.
Child Euthanasia: this is know as the controversial form of Non Voluntary Euthanasia. It is a process only used on children who are severely ill or have major birth defects. The idea of child euthanasia is illegal in Netherlands.
Voluntary Euthanasia: Ending a life in a painless manner. This form has been in controversy for quite a while now. In 2009, a few forms of voluntary euthanasia have been legalized in countries like, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the US states of Oregon. ( Wikipedia, Voluntary euthanasia 2009)
Non-Voluntary Euthanasia: Commonly known as Mercy Killing. It is performed when the concerned person is unavailable, as when in a persistent vegetative state.
Involuntary Euthanasia: performed on a person who is capable of making decisions, but was not asked for a consent, or a person who does not choose to die. This type is opposed and regraded as a crime.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
What I support
when it comes to support.. I support Euthanasia. i think a person you love, and who is badly hurt, and most important of all has no hopes of living a normal life, not able to do the regular things that everyone else around is doing, without being forcibly dependent on another person has to be given an option to end their life. By this we are doing nothing but just putting them to rest from the misery. I mean just think about it, if you were in such a situation would you wanna live it??
There is one thing you need to consider here, there might and will be people who have kids in such a plightful condition and there might and of course will be questions that will arise questions.. LIKE
Does a parent have the right to decide whether or not a ill child has to live with the misery??
Will the child ever be in a better condition to get the approval from that individual itself??
Are there any better ways to deal with it??
They say, if you have a child who is suffering, there is no hope and also who is a minor, we have to wait till they are the age of a major to take any decision. All I ask, is why??
Is there hope that they might get better?? Or are you so sure that they will get better?? Even after all the doctors saying that there is no hope...
I agree, its a good thing that there is still hope, but do you realize how much pain, sorrow and misery your child is going through?? They are not even in the state of speaking their minds.
Honestly, if i had a child who was ill to such an extend, i would be more then happy to ease their misery, then watch him or her suffer.
Judge Me..!! Nothing matters, when it comes to my child. I am not being selfish here, if the doctors give me hope on my child getting better, I will, happily take it an an honor that I can take care of him or her. Otherwise, I will happily put an end to the pain, knowing in my heart that, this is what she wants me to do.
Assisted Suicide, is not something I would support. I just do not understand the concept of somebody assisting some other person to end their life for reasons other than serious illness.
There is one thing you need to consider here, there might and will be people who have kids in such a plightful condition and there might and of course will be questions that will arise questions.. LIKE
Does a parent have the right to decide whether or not a ill child has to live with the misery??
Will the child ever be in a better condition to get the approval from that individual itself??
Are there any better ways to deal with it??
They say, if you have a child who is suffering, there is no hope and also who is a minor, we have to wait till they are the age of a major to take any decision. All I ask, is why??
Is there hope that they might get better?? Or are you so sure that they will get better?? Even after all the doctors saying that there is no hope...
I agree, its a good thing that there is still hope, but do you realize how much pain, sorrow and misery your child is going through?? They are not even in the state of speaking their minds.
Honestly, if i had a child who was ill to such an extend, i would be more then happy to ease their misery, then watch him or her suffer.
Judge Me..!! Nothing matters, when it comes to my child. I am not being selfish here, if the doctors give me hope on my child getting better, I will, happily take it an an honor that I can take care of him or her. Otherwise, I will happily put an end to the pain, knowing in my heart that, this is what she wants me to do.
Assisted Suicide, is not something I would support. I just do not understand the concept of somebody assisting some other person to end their life for reasons other than serious illness.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
What I think.
Assisted Suicide
is when one or more persons assist an individual to commit suicide.
When I say assist here, it is by means of helping the individual with
drugs required to do such an act or maybe even to get their hands on
certain equipment which hastens this kind of an act. People usually tend
to take this kind of drastic step when they are either in depression,
lack confidence to face the world, or maybe even when an individual for
that matter has suffered a huge loss in their business or areas similar
to a business, or may be shares of a company. Well, according to me
assisted suicide is something that a person must not be allowed to
follow or practice. Assisted suicide must not be legalized.
Where as, Euthanasia
on the other hand is the termination of a human life, because they are
living in an intolerable state and terminally ill, and they know that is
no cure, and there is never hope again that the individual might
actually live a normal life. An individual's life here, is ended either
by lethal injection, overdose of medication or may be even withdrawal of
life support or medication. Different types of methods allowed and
followed by certain countries and their jurisdiction in Euthanasia are:
- Physically Assisted, where the doctors prescribe a certain type of medication to be taken by the individual to hasten the process of death.
- Voluntary, where the individual agrees to go off life support, or withdraws themselves from medication or may be even takes a voluntary over-dosage of medication.
- Non-Voluntary, where with the approval of the individual, a family member or a close family friend performs the task. And last but not the least,
- Medical Sedation, this is a process where the individual is put to sleep medically, without any other treatment.
According to me, Euthanasia has to be legalized for people who have a
valid reason to end a loved one’s life. It is putting an end to their
suffering. But if the individual who is sick or terminally ill, does not
want to end their life and just wants to live the rest of their days
and enjoy them as they come, nobody should have the right, including the
law of the land, to take that away from them. The only question I ask
is, how can someone watch a loved one suffer and still want to put them
through more suffering for longer? With a quote, let me end my first
blog here. I am attaching a link to a video and also reading about a
wonderful boy's story, please make sure to check them. I will be back
with more thoughts and research on these topics.
“Think of all those ages through which men have had the courage to die, and then remember that we have actually fallen to talking about having the courage to live.”
― G.K. Chesterton, George Bernard Shaw
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