Euthanasia how does it work

In the living will, the person states their wishes for medical care, should they become unable to make their own decision. In , voters in Oregon approved the Death with Dignity Act, allowing physicians to assist terminal patients who were not expected to survive more than 6 months. The Terri Schiavo case galvanized public opinion in Florida and the U.

In , Various arguments are commonly cited for and against euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Freedom of choice : Advocates argue that the patient should be able to make their own choice. Quality of life : Only the patient really knows how they feel, and how the physical and emotional pain of illness and prolonged death impacts their quality of life. Witnesses : Many who witness the slow death of others believe that assisted death should be allowed.

Resources : It makes more sense to channel the resources of highly-skilled staff, equipment, hospital beds, and medications towards life-saving treatments for those who wish to live, rather than those who do not. Humane : It is more humane to allow a person with intractable suffering to be allowed to choose to end that suffering. We already do it : If a beloved pet has intractable suffering, it is seen as an act of kindness to put it to sleep.

Why should this kindness be denied to humans? Moral and religious arguments : Several faiths see euthanasia as a form of murder and morally unacceptable. Patient competence : Euthanasia is only voluntary if the patient is mentally competent, with a lucid understanding of available options and consequences and the ability to express that understanding and their wish to terminate their own life. Determining or defining competence is not straightforward.

Guilt : Patients may feel they are a burden on resources and are psychologically pressured into consenting. They may feel that the financial, emotional, and mental burden on their family is too great. Even if the costs of treatment are provided by the state, there is a risk that hospital personnel may have an economic incentive to encourage euthanasia consent. Mental illness : A person with depression is more likely to ask for assisted suicide, and this can complicate the decision.

Slippery slope : There is a risk that physician-assisted suicide will start with those who are terminally ill and wish to die because of intractable suffering, but then begin to include other individuals. Possible recovery : Very occasionally, a patient recovers, against all the odds.

The diagnosis might be wrong. This is a site-wide search. The patient in question would typically be terminally ill or experiencing great pain and suffering. Active euthanasia : killing a patient by active means, for example, injecting a patient with a lethal dose of a drug. Passive euthanasia : intentionally letting a patient die by withholding artificial life support such as a ventilator or feeding tube. Some ethicists distinguish between withholding life support and withdrawing life support the patient is on life support but then removed from it.

Voluntary euthanasia : with the consent of the patient. Involuntary euthanasia : without the consent of the patient, for example, if the patient is unconscious and his or her wishes are unknown.. Self-administered euthanasia : the patient administers the means of death. Other-administered euthanasia : a person other than the patient administers the means of death.

Assisted : the patient administers the means of death but with the assistance of another person, such as a physician. There are many possible combinations of the above types, and many types of euthanasia are morally controversial.

Some types of euthanasia, such as assisted voluntary forms, are legal in some countries. Some ethicists think that. A physician provides the patient with a means, such as sufficient medication, for the patient to kill him or herself.

Some instances of euthanasia are relatively uncontroversial. The proposed legislation does not seek to legalise the use of Nembutal and its relatives — but suggests a "drug cocktail" be concocted by a compounding pharmacist.

Some have suggested the mixture will be in powder form made with pain killers to induce a coma and eventually cause respiratory arrest. It may also use sedatives and muscle relaxants, a drug to slow down the heart, and an anti-epileptic to prevent seizure and induce relaxation of muscles. The constituents and doses are yet to be determined. It's difficult at this early stage to predict how this concoction would work and whether it would be easier or safer to use than drugs already tried and tested.

This proposed product would need to be tested and results compared, as all new drugs are. What is needed is a drug or a mixture of drugs that produce a painless, relatively quick and peaceful passing. We do not wish to see further suffering in the form of seizures, prolonged distress and pain. If no solution is certain, it would be wise to fall back on simply legalising what is already tried and tested.

If you or anyone you know needs help, please contact Lifeline Australia's hour helpline on 13 11 Betty Chaar is a senior lecturer in pharmacy practice at the University of Sydney. Originally published in The Conversation. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

Generally speaking, health care is aimed at relieving pain and suffering. Medicine as poison When it comes to the question of which medicines can, or even are meant to, kill us, the most important thing to remember is the old adage "the dose makes the poison".

In more practical terms, this means too much of any medicine can cause harm. What drugs are used in assisted dying? When an owner and veterinarian decide that a pet is suffering or unlikely to make a recovery, euthanasia offers a way to end a pet's pain.

The decision is difficult for both the owner and the veterinarian, but we should recognize that sometimes this is the kindest thing we can do in the final stage of a pet's life. Understanding how the procedure is performed may help an owner in this decision. It may also help an owner decide whether they wish to be present during the euthanasia. Initially, a pet is made as comfortable as possible. Some veterinarians will perform the procedure in a pet's home.

If the animal is brought to the hospital, veterinarians often chose a quiet room where the pet will feel more at ease. Sometimes a mild sedative or tranquilizer is first given if the animal appears anxious or painful.