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[[Image:Sanger Euthenasia Society.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Euthanasia Society lists [[Margaret Sanger]] as a member]]

[[Image:Sanger Euthenasia Society.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Euthanasia Society lists [[Margaret Sanger]] as a member]]

'''Euthanasia''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] for good death) is the act of terminating the life of a disabled or terminally ill person or animal, for instance in order to end unbearable suffering. Under Anglo-American law, involuntary euthanasia of humans is illegal—although there are a few exception now in the [[United States]] (see below). Most religious leaders see all forms of human euthanasia as murder.{{fact}}

'''Euthanasia''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] for good death) is a [[politically correct]] term for a form of [[murder]]. It is the act of terminating the life of a disabled or terminally ill person or animal, for instance in order to end unbearable suffering. Under historical Anglo-American law, involuntary euthanasia of humans is illegal—although increasingly, exceptions now exist in the [[United States]] (see below).

Most [[libertarians]] and many [[liberals]] support legalization in some circumstances of ''voluntary euthanasia'', i.e. the termination of a dying patient's life upon his/her own explicit request. Voluntary euthanasia has been legalized in the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]], where large majorities of the population support the right of terminally ill patients to die at a moment of their own choosing, and in [[Switzerland]] and the US state of [[Oregon]], where the people explicitly endorsed legalization in plebiscites.  Legalized euthanasia has limitations on when it may be used, such as the approval of a number of physicians when a terminally ill patient suffers from excruciating pain. Opponents of euthanasia maintain that this rarely constitutes an obstacle, as in practice all it requires is a few physicians to authorize it, and that legalization thus violates the sanctity of human life. They also fear legalization could be a slippery slope, leading to the planned and involuntary termination of all life that is deemed "unworthy", as in the [[Nazis]]' program to kill the mentally and physically handicapped. Supporters of legalized voluntary euthanasia, on the other hand, feel that a complete ban would unnecessarily prolong the suffering of some terminally ill patients and thus contravene the [[Gospel]]'s teaching of compassion. They are convinced that the rule of law in democratic societies prevents excesses such as the euthanasia program of [[Nazi]] [[Germany]].  

Most [[libertarians]] and many [[liberals]] support legalization in some circumstances of ''voluntary euthanasia'', i.e. the termination of a dying patient's life upon his/her own explicit request. Voluntary euthanasia has been legalized in the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]], where large majorities of the population support the right of terminally ill patients to die at a moment of their own choosing, and in [[Switzerland]] and the US state of [[Oregon]], where the people explicitly endorsed legalization in plebiscites.  Legalized euthanasia has limitations on when it may be used, such as the approval of a number of physicians when a terminally ill patient suffers from excruciating pain. Opponents of euthanasia maintain that this rarely constitutes an obstacle, as in practice all it requires is a few physicians to authorize it, and that legalization thus violates the sanctity of human life. They also fear legalization could be a slippery slope, leading to the planned and involuntary termination of all life that is deemed "unworthy", as in the [[Nazis]]' program to kill the mentally and physically handicapped. Supporters of legalized voluntary euthanasia, on the other hand, feel that a complete ban would unnecessarily prolong the suffering of some terminally ill patients and thus contravene the [[Gospel]]'s teaching of compassion. They are convinced that the rule of law in democratic societies prevents excesses such as the euthanasia program of [[Nazi]] [[Germany]].  

An additional study by sociologists in [[South Australia]], reported in 1994, found that 19% of doctors surveyed had deliberately ended someone's life, with their the answers revealing that in 49% of those occasions they had done so without the patient's request.<ref>Meier DE, Emmons CA, Wallenstein S, Quill T, Morrison RS, Cassel CK. A National Survey of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the United States. NEnglJMed 1998; 338: 1193-1201.</ref>  

An additional study by sociologists in [[South Australia]], reported in 1994, found that 19% of doctors surveyed had deliberately ended someone's life, with their the answers revealing that in 49% of those occasions they had done so without the patient's request.<ref>Meier DE, Emmons CA, Wallenstein S, Quill T, Morrison RS, Cassel CK. A National Survey of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the United States. NEnglJMed 1998; 338: 1193-1201.</ref>  

Also, in Belgium a survey of deaths registered during the first four months of 1998 found that over 10% of deaths were due to euthanasia, including the use of drugs given by doctors to hasten death, "without the explicit request of the patient".<ref>BBC News. 11/24/2000, ''Doctors `help kill one in 10 Belgians''</ref>

Also, in [[Belgium]], a survey of deaths registered during the first four months of 1998 found that over 10% of deaths were due to euthanasia, including the use of drugs given by doctors to hasten death, "without the explicit request of the patient".<ref>BBC News. 11/24/2000, ''Doctors `help kill one in 10 Belgians''</ref>

Studies of the results of the [[Oregon]] [[Death With Dignity Act]] have shown much different results. In the ten years between the law's passage, in 1997, and the time of the retrospective study, 341 people chose to end their lives under the terms of the law. Under the law a physician can only write the prescription for the medication while the patient must actually take the medication.<ref>Aungst, H. (2008). 'Death with dignity'. Geriatrics, 63(12), 20-22</ref>

Studies of the results of the [[Oregon]] [[Death With Dignity Act]] have shown very different results. In the ten years between the law's passage, in 1997, and the time of the retrospective study, 341 people chose to end their lives under the terms of the law. Under the law, a physician can only write the prescription for the medication while the patient must actually take the medication.<ref>Aungst, H. (2008). 'Death with dignity'. Geriatrics, 63(12), 20-22</ref>

 

==References==

==References==

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==See also==

==Further reading==

*[[Suicide]]

*[https://www.gotquestions.org/euthanasia.html What does the Bible say about euthanasia / assisted suicide?], at ''[[GotQuestions]]''

*[[Assisted suicide]]

*Mitchell, Elizabeth, Dr. (January 22, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/sanctity-of-life/euthanasia/biblical-solution-terminal-illness-or-suffering/ Is Euthanasia a Biblical Solution to Terminal Illness or Suffering?] ''[[Answers in Genesis]]''.

*Mitchell, Elizabeth, Dr. (April 21, 2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/sanctity-of-life/euthanasia/threats-of-euthanasia-elderly-disabled/ Threats of Euthanasia]. ''[[Answers in Genesis]]''.

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