Pros And Disadvantages Of Euthanasia

As there are many forms of euthanasia, the different types shall be explained referring to Beresford (2005):

“Actions that result in the withdrawal of life ­sustaining treatment are often referred to as passive euthanasia, while those that involve the positive act of causing death of another are referred to as active euthanasia. A further distinction can be made between voluntary euthanasia, where the consent of the patient is first obtained, and non­-voluntary euthanasia, where consent is not obtained: for instance, when a patient is in a persistent vegetative state or other wise lacks the capacity to give informed consent. In addition, there is physician­ assisted suicide which involves the provision of a lethal substance to a patient by a physician for the patient to self­ administer in order to commit suicide in a painless manner.“

In the following statement I will

Hence there is no reason to fear the so called „slippery slope“ which is often brought forward when it comes to the debate about the legalisation of euthanasia. „It is feared that we will soon find ourselves unable to prevent involuntary euthanasia“ (Downie, 2004) because „once certain practices are accepted, people shall in fact go on to accept other practices as well.“ (Downie, 2004) Actually there is no evidence for this claim but there is data from a Dutch study which assumes that „the legalization of euthanasia in the Netherlands did not result in a slippery slope for medical end-of-life practices.“(Rietjens, J.A.C. et El., 2009). „In 1990, 1.7% of all deaths were preceded by euthanasia, (…) in 2005, (…) 1.7% of all deaths were the result of euthanasia.“ (Rietjens, J.A.C. et El., 2009) In short words: the number of deaths caused by euthanasia hasn’t changed in 15 years. If legalising euthanasia had led the Netherlands on the slippery slope, death rates would have increased. But - referring to this study - they have