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Involuntary euthanasia, typically regarded as a type of murder, occurs when euthanasia is performed on a person who would be able to provide informed consent, but does not, either because they do not want to die, or because they were not asked.[1]
Involuntary euthanasia is contrasted with voluntary euthanasia (euthanasia performed with the patient's consent) and non-voluntary euthanasia (when the patient is unable to give informed consent, for example when a patient is comatose or a child). Involuntary euthanasia is widely opposed and is regarded as a crime in all legal jurisdictions, although it has been legal in the past in some jurisdictions, notably Nazi Germany. Reference to it or fear of it is sometimes used as a reason for not changing laws relating to voluntary euthanasia.[2][3]
- ^ Jackson, Jennifer (2006). Ethics in medicine. Polity. p. 137. ISBN 0-7456-2569-X.
- ^ Harris, NM. (Oct 2001). "The euthanasia debate" (PDF). J R Army Med Corps. 147 (3): 367–70. doi:10.1136/jramc-147-03-22. PMID 11766225.
It is the occurrence of involuntary euthanasia which forms one of the main arguments against legalisation.
- ^ Chapple, A.; Ziebland, S.; McPherson, A.; Herxheimer, A. (Dec 2006). "What people close to death say about euthanasia and assisted suicide: a qualitative study". J Med Ethics. 32 (12): 706–10. doi:10.1136/jme.2006.015883. PMC 2563356. PMID 17145910.