If we refer to the etymological sense of the word, euthanasia comes from the Greek language and comes to mean ‘good death. Although right now there are different variables on this concept, the definition according to the Ismartfashions says that it is: “The action or omission that, in order to avoid suffering for terminally ill patients, accelerates their death with or without their consent. “
In most cases, euthanasia revolves around the option of choosing to die with dignity and pain, knowing that the person’s own health is chronic, irreversible, painful, and probably degenerative.
Different visions
The concept of euthanasia has been added over time, a few adjectives such as ‘direct’, ‘indirect’, ‘passive’, ‘active’, ‘voluntary’ or ‘involuntary’, which has ended up causing a state of confusion between citizens, the media and health professionals.
To try to shorten the approach to euthanasia and make it as simple as possible, the Federal Association for the Right to Die with Dignity includes it in the following actions:
- Those that are carried out at the express request, repeated over time, and informed by patients in a situation of capacity.
- Those that cause the death of patients, directly and totally intentionally, through an immediate and unique cause-effect relationship.
- They occur in a context of suffering due to an incurable disease that patients perceive as unacceptable and that has not been mitigated by other means, not even with palliative care.
- All of them are performed by healthcare professionals who know the patients and have a significant clinical relationship with them.
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