patients whom they consider are more difficult to treat.
There are three basic types of euthanasia: voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary (Euthanasia, 2005). Voluntary euthanasia is the truest form of euthanasia when an individual requests euthanasia, often during an illness before complete incapacitation is expected (e.g. a coma is expected). In this case euthanasia differs from suicide in that it exists only in the context of the amelioration of suffering in the process of dying. The decision is informed and made freely. Non-voluntary euthanasia happens when an individual is no longer sentient and cannot make the decision for themselves and euthanasia is not voluntary but neither is it involuntary. An example would be turning off life support when resuscitation is not expected, or when the patient had severe brain damage which makes a person unable to make the decision for themselves. Involuntary euthanasia is when an individual can distinguish between life and death, and any medical killing is against their wishes. This could be a case where someone is terminally ill and in great pain, but does not wish euthanasia, but it is performed as a merciful act by medical personnel.
Opinions vary across the United States and around the world about euthanasia. Oregon passes the Death With Dignity Act in 1997, which allows terminally ill patients to request assistance in committing suicide (Emanuel, 2001; Robinson, 2005). Physicians prescribe lethal doses of barbiturates for patients, but do not administer t
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