What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. In other word, to avoid a physical and emotional pain, the date of ending a life can be decided by a person who wished to die.

Many different forms of euthanasia can be distinguished as the following;
- Active euthanasia : a person has a direct involvement with the person’s death. (eg) overdose of medicine
- Passive euthanasia : a person has an indirect involvement with the person’s death.
   (Withdrawing treatment : power off a machine, so the person can’t keep the life.
    Withholding treatment : No more surgery to extend the life.)
- Voluntary euthanasia : it can be occurred by the request of the person who dies.
- Involuntary euthanasia : for the person, like a young baby or unconscious person, an appropriate person can make a right decision of living or dying
- Doctrine of double effect : to reduce the patient’s pain(effect), the doctor aims for speeding the patient’s death(effect), but not aims to kill the patient.
- DNR(Do Not Resuscitate) : it’s a kind of the passive euthanasia. When a patient’s heart stops, a doctor is not required to resuscitate.
- Assisted suicide : a person who wants to die, asks for help, such as leaving the drug near him/her.

Surprisingly, euthanasia is legalised in only a few countries. Historically euthanasia started since BC400, and physician-assisted euthanasia can be practiced legally in the State of Oregon, the US. In 1996 and 1997, voluntary enthanasia was allowed by Law in the Northern Territory of Australia, and  as of August 2003 voluntary euthanasia is legal in two countries – the Netherlands and Belgium. Despite a lot of debate, the legalisation of euthanasia still seems to be in process around the world. Currently in New Zealand, medical treatment might be rejected under a clause in the Bill of Rights Act 1990. This means passive euthanasia is legally acceptables, whereas active euthanasia is still illegal in New Zealand so heavy penalties will be given to a person who involves in any way assisting suicide.
If so, what do other New Zealand organisations have views on euthanasia? By the report of parliament NZ, The Church of England and Catholic Church, Hospice NZ, The Medical Council of NZ, and The NZ Medical Association basically are not supporting euthanasia or not giving clear opinion on moral issues. This is a quite different result in other surveys. On this point, the question why NZ organisations and public survey have a disagreement is generated.