Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEuthanasia vs. Assisted SuicideClassificationsQualificationsLegality
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Euthanasia vs. Assisted Suicide
Classifications
Qualifications
Legality
Euthanasiarefers to compassionately letting, promoting, or causing the death of a dying person. It is most often used for a person who has a life-ending illness and is in extreme pain. The word euthanasia has its roots in the words “eu” and “thanatos,” meaning a “good death.”
Though euthanasia is often used to reduce the pain of dying organisms, it presents complex issues when used in humans. Whether the practice is active versus passive and voluntary versus involuntary can further impact how it is viewed.
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Many people refer to “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide” interchangeably, but there are key differences between the two.
Similarities
Here is how euthanasia and assisted suicide are similar:
Differences
Though both practices involve the same outcome, here is how they differ:
Classifications of Euthanasia
Active vs. Passive Euthanasia
Active euthanasia—sometimes called “aggressive” euthanasia— is when a medical professional or another person performs a deliberate act to cause a person to die, such as an injection of a lethal dose of a drug or an overdose of a drug.
Passive euthanasia is when an action is withheld or stopped to cause or hasten a person’s death, such as the removal of afeeding tubeorventilator, refusal to perform a life-extending operation or provide life-extending drugs, or withholding of food, hydration (water), and oxygenation.
Voluntary vs. Involuntary Euthanasia
Involuntary euthanasia is done when the person is unconscious or unable to give consent, usually when the person is permanently incapacitated. It can be performed based on permission from a court or family members and usually involves an act such as withdrawing life support from a person with no signs of brain activity
Qualifying for “Death With Dignity”
A primary attending physician assists you during the process and writes the lethal end-of-life prescription if you qualify. A second certifying physician must certify that you meet the legal requirements of your jurisdiction.
A variety of drugs are used to promote death. They include barbiturates,benzodiazepines, sedatives, andopioids. However, there is no consensus that a single drug or combination of drugs is most effective for ending a human life.A retrospective study that examined the experiences of almost 3,557 Canadians who died with medical assistance reported that self-administered medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was rare compared to the use of clinician-assisted medical assistance in dying when both were available.
Researchers reported that the medications given for MAiD exhibited variability, but midazolam,lidocaine, propofol, androcuroniumwere given far more often than any alternatives. With these regimens, most patients were immediately unconscious after the procedure started. In most cases, death occurred within three to 15 minutes of the injection.
Legality of Euthanasia
In the United States
Elsewhere in the World
Many more countries allow some form of medical aid in dying or assisted suicide, though the circumstances and criteria can vary. These countries include:
Could Someone Travel Outside of the States for Euthanasia? (i.e., Euthanasia Tourism)
The options for suicide tourism or traveling to a certain U.S. state or foreign country to access legal euthanasia are limited. Most countries and U.S. states that allow some form of medical aid in dying reserve the procedures for people who have been residents of the jurisdiction for a minimum amount of time. In the United States, Vermont and Oregon do not have a residency requirement.
Summary
Before the issue arises for yourself or a family member, learn about your options for dying with dignity in your state or jurisdiction. Knowing your rights and making your wishes known before the need arises can help you and your family be prepared if the worst occurs.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gupta AK, Bansal D.Euthanasia - review and update through the lens of a psychiatrist.Ind Psychiatry J. 2023;32(1):15-18. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_259_21Friesen, P.Medically assisted dying and suicide: How are they different, and how are they similar?Hastings Center Report, 2004;50(1):32-43. doi:10.1002/hast.1083Maxim Institute.What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide?University of Missouri School of Medicine.Euthanasia.Human Life International.6 types of euthanasia: is it ever justified?Death With Dignity.What is death with dignity?Worthington A, Finlay I, Regnard C.Efficacy and safety of drugs used for ‘assisted dying.‘Br Med Bull. 2022;142(1):15-22. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldac009Stukalin I, Olaiya OR, Naik V, et al.Medications and dosages used in medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study.CMAJ Open. 2022;10(1):E19-E26. doi:10.9778/cmajo.20200268Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying is not assisted suicide, suicide or euthanasia.Britannica ProCon.org.Euthanasia & medical aid in dying (MAID) around the world.World Population Review.Countries where euthanasia is legal/where is euthanasia legal in 2024?Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying: residency restrictions.Sperling D.Travelling to die: views, attitudes and end-of-life preferences of Israelis considering receiving aid-in-dying in Switzerland.BMC Med Ethics23, 48 (2022). doi:10.1186/s12910-022-00785-w
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gupta AK, Bansal D.Euthanasia - review and update through the lens of a psychiatrist.Ind Psychiatry J. 2023;32(1):15-18. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_259_21Friesen, P.Medically assisted dying and suicide: How are they different, and how are they similar?Hastings Center Report, 2004;50(1):32-43. doi:10.1002/hast.1083Maxim Institute.What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide?University of Missouri School of Medicine.Euthanasia.Human Life International.6 types of euthanasia: is it ever justified?Death With Dignity.What is death with dignity?Worthington A, Finlay I, Regnard C.Efficacy and safety of drugs used for ‘assisted dying.‘Br Med Bull. 2022;142(1):15-22. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldac009Stukalin I, Olaiya OR, Naik V, et al.Medications and dosages used in medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study.CMAJ Open. 2022;10(1):E19-E26. doi:10.9778/cmajo.20200268Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying is not assisted suicide, suicide or euthanasia.Britannica ProCon.org.Euthanasia & medical aid in dying (MAID) around the world.World Population Review.Countries where euthanasia is legal/where is euthanasia legal in 2024?Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying: residency restrictions.Sperling D.Travelling to die: views, attitudes and end-of-life preferences of Israelis considering receiving aid-in-dying in Switzerland.BMC Med Ethics23, 48 (2022). doi:10.1186/s12910-022-00785-w
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gupta AK, Bansal D.Euthanasia - review and update through the lens of a psychiatrist.Ind Psychiatry J. 2023;32(1):15-18. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_259_21Friesen, P.Medically assisted dying and suicide: How are they different, and how are they similar?Hastings Center Report, 2004;50(1):32-43. doi:10.1002/hast.1083Maxim Institute.What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide?University of Missouri School of Medicine.Euthanasia.Human Life International.6 types of euthanasia: is it ever justified?Death With Dignity.What is death with dignity?Worthington A, Finlay I, Regnard C.Efficacy and safety of drugs used for ‘assisted dying.‘Br Med Bull. 2022;142(1):15-22. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldac009Stukalin I, Olaiya OR, Naik V, et al.Medications and dosages used in medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study.CMAJ Open. 2022;10(1):E19-E26. doi:10.9778/cmajo.20200268Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying is not assisted suicide, suicide or euthanasia.Britannica ProCon.org.Euthanasia & medical aid in dying (MAID) around the world.World Population Review.Countries where euthanasia is legal/where is euthanasia legal in 2024?Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying: residency restrictions.Sperling D.Travelling to die: views, attitudes and end-of-life preferences of Israelis considering receiving aid-in-dying in Switzerland.BMC Med Ethics23, 48 (2022). doi:10.1186/s12910-022-00785-w
Gupta AK, Bansal D.Euthanasia - review and update through the lens of a psychiatrist.Ind Psychiatry J. 2023;32(1):15-18. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_259_21
Friesen, P.Medically assisted dying and suicide: How are they different, and how are they similar?Hastings Center Report, 2004;50(1):32-43. doi:10.1002/hast.1083
Maxim Institute.What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide?
University of Missouri School of Medicine.Euthanasia.
Human Life International.6 types of euthanasia: is it ever justified?
Death With Dignity.What is death with dignity?
Worthington A, Finlay I, Regnard C.Efficacy and safety of drugs used for ‘assisted dying.‘Br Med Bull. 2022;142(1):15-22. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldac009
Stukalin I, Olaiya OR, Naik V, et al.Medications and dosages used in medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study.CMAJ Open. 2022;10(1):E19-E26. doi:10.9778/cmajo.20200268
Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying is not assisted suicide, suicide or euthanasia.
Britannica ProCon.org.Euthanasia & medical aid in dying (MAID) around the world.
World Population Review.Countries where euthanasia is legal/where is euthanasia legal in 2024?
Compassion & Choices.Medical aid in dying: residency restrictions.
Sperling D.Travelling to die: views, attitudes and end-of-life preferences of Israelis considering receiving aid-in-dying in Switzerland.BMC Med Ethics23, 48 (2022). doi:10.1186/s12910-022-00785-w
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