2. EUTHANASIA
DEFINITION: {origin: Greek meaning “good health”}
refers to the practice of ending a life in a manner which
relieves pain and suffering.
TYPES: Voluntary, Non-voluntary, Involuntary, Active,
Passive euthanasia.
3.
4. HISTORY
1. Euthanasia in canada in its legal voluntary form is called medical
assistance in dying and became legal along with assisted suicide as of
june 2016 to end the suffering of terminally ill adults.
2. Assisted suicide was previously prohibited under the criminal code as a
form of culpable homicide. The prohibition was overturned in a february
2015 decision by supreme court in canada.
3. On 6th june 2016 suspension of invalidity expired and law was struck
down.
4. On 17th june 2016 a bill to legalize & regulate assisted dying passed in
canada’s parliament.
5. FIVE LAWS
1. They are eligible but for any application minimum period of residence or
waiting period would be eligible for health services funded by
government.
2. They are at least 18 years of age and capable of making decisions with
respect to their health.
3. They have a grievous [serious] and irremediable medical condition.
4. They have made a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying that
in particular was not made as a result of external pressure.
5. They give informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying after
having been informed of the means that are available to relieve their
suffering including palliative care.
6.
7. GRIEVOUS & IRREMEDIABLE CONDITION
A. They have a serious & incurable illness disease or disability.
B. They are in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability.
C. That illness, disease or disability or that state of decline causes them
enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to them
and that cannot be relieved under condition that they consider
acceptable.
D. Their natural death has become reasonably foreseeable taking into
account all of their medical circumstances without a prognosis
necessarily having been made as to the specific length of time that they
have remaining.
8. COMPARATIVELY IN OUR COUNTRY : INDIA
▪The landmark case of Aruna Shanbaug in 2011, recognized passive euthanasia in
which it had permitted withdrawal of life sustaining treatments from patients
not in a position to make an informed decision.
▪Since March 2018, passive euthanasia is legal in India under strict guidelines.
▪Patients must consent through a living will, and must be either terminally ill or
in a vegetative state.
▪A living will is a written document by way of which the patient can give his/her
explicit instructions in advance about the medical treatment to be given when
she/he is terminally ill or no longer able to express the informed consent.
▪But, active euthanasia is still illegal.
9. ▪The Supreme Court of India specified two irreversible
conditions to permit passive euthanasia law in 2011:
1.The brain dead for whom the ventilator could be switched
off.
2. Those in Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) for whom the
feed can be tapered out and pain-managing palliative be
added. According to laid down international specifications.
