Ethical and Legal Issues in Euthanasia in Australia

The ethical and legal issues involved in EUTHANASIA in
Australia

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review............................................................................................................................3
Voluntary euthanasia.......................................................................................................................3
Involuntary euthanasia.....................................................................................................................3
Assisted suicide...............................................................................................................................4
Legal position..................................................................................................................................4
Ethical issues...................................................................................................................................5
Arguments for and against euthanasia.............................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References......................................................................................................................................10

Introduction:
In Australia, regular attempts have been made to reform the law related with euthanasia. On the
other hand, there is a trend in favor of the realization of voluntary euthanasia in Europe and
North America. Discussions regarding the issues related with euthanasia can also be found in the
media. These are by frequent prosecution initiated by family members, medical practitioners and
friends who are in some way concerned with the death of people (Bulow et al., 2008).
Literature Review:
Euthanasia can be described as the intentional, deliberate act of ending the life of another person
in order to relieve the suffering of that person. An example in this regard can be given of the
situation where a doctor gives an injection of a legal substance to the patient to relieve the person
from unbearable pain. Generally the term euthanasia is used in the following ways:-
Voluntary euthanasia: in this case, euthanasia is performed as a result of the request made by
the person whose life has to be terminated and that person is competent. An example is the
situation where the doctor gives an injection of lethal substance to the competent patient in order
to relate the person from acute pain (Otlowski , 2010).
Non-voluntary euthanasia: in this case, euthanasia is performed even when the person is not
competent to give consent. An example would be the case where an injection of a lethal
substance is given by the doctor to the patient who is in post coma, unresponsive stage (Goldman
and Schafer, eds. 2008,).
Involuntary euthanasia: in this case, euthanasia is home and person is also competent, but that
person has not expressed his wish to die or as expressed that he does not want to die.