Graham Mansfield, 73, said his wife, Diane, 71, asked him to kill her “when I get sick.” She had stage four cancer.
It was a story that sparked a lot of talk and debate around euthanasia laws in the UK, and Mansfield himself called for a change in euthanasia law.
But what is euthanasia, is it legal here and where is it allowed?
What is euthanasia?
Euthanasia can take several different forms:
Euthanasia
Physician-assisted suicide, also sometimes called physician-assisted suicide (PAS), means that a doctor knowingly assists someone in committing suicide. This person may be in pain and suffering, or may have been given an incurable diagnosis. Their doctor should use the most effective, painless method.
Sometimes doctors give someone medicine they can take to kill themselves. For example, a lethal dose of opioids.
Active versus passive
Deliberately giving someone a lethal dose of a sedative, often administered by a doctor, is considered active euthanasia.
Passive euthanasia is sometimes described as withholding or limiting life-sustaining treatment so that the person dies faster. The doctor may also prescribe higher and higher doses of pain medication. Over time, doses can become toxic.
Palliative care aims to provide maximum comfort for people at the end of their lives. For example, a palliative care physician may allow a person nearing death to stop taking a medication that is causing unpleasant side effects, or to take a higher dose of medication to relieve pain.
Voluntary versus involuntary
Voluntary euthanasia is described as the conscious decision of a person to seek help to end their own life. But the person must give his full consent and show that he fully understands what is about to happen.
Involuntary euthanasia involves someone else making the decision to end someone’s life, often a close family member. This is usually done when someone is completely unconscious or permanently incapacitated. This often includes passive euthanasia, such as turning off life support for a person who shows no signs of brain activity.
Where is euthanasia legal?
In the UK, euthanasia is illegal and can be treated as murder or manslaughter.
“Aiding or encouraging” another person’s suicide is illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is no specific offense in Scotland for assisting or encouraging suicide.
Euthanasia is currently legal worldwide in the following locations:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Colombia
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Spain
- Several states of Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia)