EUTHANASIA
Euthanasia refers to deliberately ending someone’s life, usually to relieve suffering. Doctors sometimes perform euthanasia when requested by people who have a terminal illness and are in a lot of pain.
Assisted suicide vs. euthanasia
Assisted suicide is sometimes called physician-assisted suicide (PAS). PAS means a doctor knowingly helps someone end their life. In assisted suicide doctors will usually provide people with a drug they can take to end their life. For example, they may prescribe a lethal dose of opioids. It’s up to the person to decide whether they take the drug and when to take it.
With euthanasia, a doctor is allowed to end the person’s life by painless means. For example, they may use an injection of a lethal drug.
Voluntary euthanasia vs. nonvoluntary euthanasia
Voluntary euthanasia is when a person makes a conscious decision to seek help ending their own life. The person must give their full consent and demonstrate that they fully understand what will happen.
Non-voluntary euthanasia involves someone else, usually a close family member, making the decision to end someone’s life. This generally occurs when someone is completely unconscious or permanently incapacitated.
Nonvoluntary euthanasia usually involves withdrawing life support from someone who’s showing no signs of brain activity.
The Catholic Church and Euthanasia
The Church, in its 2000-year history, has always defended human life from conception to natural death, with particular attention to the more fragile stages of existence. The rejection of both euthanasia and “over-zealous” treatment constitute an affirmation of the rights of persons: an incurable condition does not mean a refusal of care.