This paper will discuss the practice of euthanasia, and will specifically address the pros and cons which surround this issue from the perspective of the doctor-patient-nurse relationship. In modern times, euthanasia "generally refers to the ending of someone else's life for compassionate reasons, when people are terminally ill or their suffering has become unbearable" (Van Bommel, 1986, p. 117). There are several different types of euthanasia which have been defined in relation to the specific circumstances surrounding the occurrence of this action. For example, voluntary euthanasia refers to those cases in which an individual has requested his or her own death, whereas involuntary euthanasia refers to cases in which a person is put to death without having given his or her expressed consent beforehand. In addition, an act of euthanasia may be defined as being either passive or active. In passive euthanasia, a patient is simply removed from medical treatment and allowed to die naturally, whereas in active euthanasia, which is also known as "mercy killing," "individuals take an active role in the actual killing of a patient" (Sprung, 1990, p. 2214).
The issue of euthanasia has important implications for the medical profession. For example, medical ethics are involved in the question of whether or not a doctor or nurse should take part in the request of a patient who wishes to die. In addition, because of recent developments in medical technology, the question has been raised as to whether or not a brain-dead patient should be kept alive with life-support systems even when this procedure goes against the wishes of the patient's family. Because of the ethical questions involved, the issue of euthanasia also goes beyond the doctor-patient-nurse relationship and includes a variety of social and legal considerations as well. Euthanasia is a controversial issue which arises from time to time in public debate, thus reflecting the ...