Euthanasia in End-of-Life Care in the UK

Euthanasia in End-of-Life Care in the UK
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Euthanasia in End-of-Life Care in the UK
Euthanasia, otherwise referred to as assisted suicide, refers to when we deliberately end someone's existence to relieve them of pain and suffering. The various categories in which experts explain euthanasia include non-voluntary, voluntary, and involuntary euthanasia. The first type of assisted suicide is voluntary euthanasia which states that the person who wishes to die actively requests and consents to the act. Non-voluntary euthanasia, on the other hand, occurs when the person is unable to agree with others, such as when they are in a coma or otherwise incapacitated (Dintcho, 2020). Last on the list is involuntary euthanasia which dictates that when individuals perform the act without the person's consent, society generally considers it murder.
The ideology of assisted suicide bears a rich history, with roots taking us back to ancient civilizations. In ancient Rome, society saw assisted suicide as a compassionate act, and physicians often performed it. The Latin word "euthanasia" literally means "good death," reflecting the belief that it was a positive and desirable way to end suffering. However, assisted suicide was not universally accepted in ancient Rome and was often controversial. Assisted suicide remains controversial and complex, with different laws and societal attitudes in different countries. Some places, such as certain states in the US and certain countries in Europe, have legalized assisted suicide under certain circumstances, while others have banned it entirely. Debate continues on the ethical, moral, and legal implications of assisted suicide in modern society.
A Brief History of Euthanasia
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church opposed euthanasia because it violated the sanctity of life. The Church taught that God alone could rightfully end an individual's existence and that it was a mortal sin to prematurely end a person's life. In the 19th and 20th centuries, euthanasia re-emerged as a controversial and divisive issue. In the US, specialists established the first organized movement for legalizing euthanasia in the 1930s. This act resulted in the formation of the Euthanasia Society of America. Whereas in the United Kingdom, the Suicide Act of 1961 made it illegal to assist in a suicide or to attempt to commit suicide, and this law remains in place today. The Suicide Act 1961 of England makes it a criminal offence to assist people in taking their lives, punishable by up to 14 years in prison (Yuill, 2022). However, the issue of euthanasia continues to be a source of debate and discussion, with solid arguments on both sides. There have been several attempts to legalize euthanasia in England, but none have been successful. In 2015, the House of Commons rejected a proposal that would have allowed medical practitioners to issue deadly medication prescriptions to critically sick patients. The debate over euthanasia in England is ongoing, and it is a twisted and controversial matter that raises several ethical, moral, and practical concerns.
Exceptions of Euthanasia and Palliative Care
The law allows for the withdrawal of treatment or life-susta...