Euthanasia: An act of compassion or felony?

The constitution of different countries has ordained various human rights for the welfare of their citizens and to extend to all human beings. We are entitled to the right to equality, freedom, choice, education, and many more. The main purpose of these rights is to give people of all caste, sex, race, language, religion, etc a sense of belongingness, unity, equality, and power. The Human Rights Act; Article 2 emphasizes the right to life i.e., everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. It means nobody has the right to end your life, including the government. But what about the choice or decision of one’s own to end their life? Is suicide legal or illegal? Is it right to help a suicide when the end isn’t near? Such questions are particularly controversial and are considered and executed differently in every other country. 

Most suicides are impetuous. The majority of people who kill themselves are in the hold of a transient mood, often due to depression, substance abuse, or any other mental illness. Prevention of such deaths and spreading awareness is a public health and medical task. But there are others whose lives are so miserable and despondent that they prefer to end them. They might be suffering from incurable diseases or intractable physical injury and hate the thought of being dependent or being a burden on anyone whatsoever. Many countries have forbidden suicide and also consider it a felony if someone helps others in ending their own lives. While in some countries like Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and others; euthanasia and assisted suicide is made legal. Euthanasia or mercy killing means a doctor or physician is allowed by law to end a person’s life if they are suffering from a painful or incurable disease and physical injury by withdrawing treatments. Assisted suicide is when a doctor assists a patient to commit suicide through painless means; if they request it. Such requests are frequently made when the patient is in a very critical situation and is suffering from no foreseeable end. They choose to die rather than linger and suffer. 

Ending incurable and inexorable sufferings through euthanasia and assisted suicide can or cannot be considered as an act of compassion. Sometimes doctors perform euthanasia without having the consent of the individual or their parents or relatives; redeeming it as an act of compassion towards the patient. Such involuntary euthanasia is no less than murder and is considered an act of felony. Also assisted suicide is helping someone die because they think that he/she is better off dead; without providing them with proper physical treatment or psychological help. It’s precisely the difference between rape and consensual sex. Allowing people to have sex doesn’t mean legalizing rape. Anything without the consent of the concerned individual is not an act of compassion. However, euthanasia or mercy killing is sometimes an act of compassion when the individual is in a very painful condition and in no state to give consent. The doctors need to be of better judgment in such scenarios. Assisted suicide can also be seen as being compassionate towards the sufferer; who is after being provided with all means of physical and emotional help does not wish to live. Such individuals are sure that their state of being is not likely to change soon and do not wish to be a burden on anyone or have got no spirit left to continue living. Like every other right, the right to die lies with the individual’s choices alone. 

Opinion: Euthanasia or assisted suicide means are just suicide and an unfortunate death has given the name of mercy and compassion. Suicide removes the pain of the individual, that is simultaneously relinquished to their loved ones; family, and friends. There’s so much we can do to alleviate suffering. Depression is one of the major causes of suicide. We can always help them by just being kind, compassionate, and loving. Proper mental awareness needs to be spread and psychological treatments need to be made available at large. People suffering from physical injuries and incurable diseases need to be supported and taken care of. They should not feel like they are being a burden and will be better off dead. Your one act of kindness or compassion can save someone’s life and give them the will to carry on. It’s not always the best solution, but at least we can try.