What is Euthanasia?

DEFINITION:  Defined as painless killing of a person who is suffering from incurable disease, senility or permanent damage to the brain which cannot be repaired or cured.
TYPES:
1. Active  euthanasia( positive euthanasia)
2.  Passive euthanasia(Negative euthanasia)
EUTHANASIA  AND ITS ETHICAL ASPECTS:
3. Medical ethics always emphasized the need for preservation of life. Down the ages it has rejected the act of taking away of life.
4. The intentional termination of life of human being is contrary  to the  principles and policies for which the medical profession stands.
5. Hippocratic oath says"neither I will administer a poison to anybody when asked for to do so, nor will, I suggest a course".
6. Medical science and technology have produced on impact, leads to the evolution of medical ethics system
7. The prime responsibility of medical professional is to relieve human suffering
8. Above all it is the relief of suffering by all means available to him. When the endpoint is reached, death by nature or via the medium of voluntary euthanasia is immaterial.
9. A physician need not hesitate or feel guilty as a final remedy is for the patient.
10. A physician respecting  the existing, practice of medical ethics, such as patient's right to refuse any treatment  offered or at times using doses of prim killer drugs, which may shorten the life- a physician is not transgressing any ethical bounds.
11. Added to this, the patient's voluntary and informed consent to accept treatment forms all the legal and ethical basis for offering any form of treatment.
12. A doctor acting in good conscience is ethically justified in assisting death which relieves intense and unnecessary pain or distress caused by an incurable illness greatly outweighs the benefits to the patient than further prolonging the life.
13. However, what is incurable today may not be tomorrow. So there will be evolution in the concept.
INDIAN LAW OF EUTHANASIA:
14. The law in 1994 had the first  encounter on right  to die if one could legally commit suicide, he could also give consent for being allowed to die.
15. But in 1996, this has been changed and become punishable.