DYING AND LIVING: IS EUTHANASIA THE RIGHTFUL ANSWER?

Euthanasia, also known as “mercy killing,” is the deliberate act of ending an ill person’s life to alleviate suffering. The objective of this study is to provide an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of euthanasia, mindful of its different forms, arguments for and against it, and its wider implications for society. This study aims to determine whether euthanasia is necessary considering the modern advancements in medicine and the inviolability of human life. This study’s method is a philosophical analysis. The significance of this study is practical: a reminder to all health care providers that one of their major ethical principles is to do no harm as they safeguard lives. The findings reveal that active euthanasia is generally criminalized in many jurisdictions, whereas passive euthanasia is generally permitted. In conclusion, this study suggests that sincere care and compassion are what sick people really need. Therefore, it is in the best interest of patients and society at large to focus the attention of physicians and healthcare professionals to better pain control, suffering relief, and physical and psychosocial support for patients who are dying and who are terminally ill. There are familiar cases where patients pleaded to die or be euthanized, only to recuperate with gratitude that the physicians did not accede to their pleas.