What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?

Assisted dying, assisted suicide, and euthanasia are all terms that refer to the practice of intentionally ending a person’s life in order to relieve suffering. While they are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these practices.

Assisted Dying

Assisted dying refers to the act of providing a terminally ill or suffering individual with the means or information to end their own life. This could involve providing medication or other tools that the individual can use to end their life at a time of their choosing.

Assisted Suicide

Assisted suicide involves one person providing the means or assistance to another person to end their own life. This assistance could range from providing information on how to carry out the act to physically assisting the individual in the act of ending their life.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the act of intentionally ending a person’s life to relieve suffering. This is typically done by a physician or medical professional administering a lethal dose of medication to the patient at their request. Euthanasia can be voluntary (at the request of the patient) or involuntary (without the patient’s consent).

Each of these practices is highly controversial and raises ethical, moral, and legal questions. While some argue that individuals should have the right to die on their own terms and avoid suffering, others raise concerns about the potential for abuse and the sanctity of human life.

It is important to have a clear understanding of the differences between these practices and the implications they have for individuals and society as a whole.