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{{Orthodoxize}}{{cleanup|Needs a thorough revision, including opening definition}}'''Euthanasia''' refers to the act of intentionally ending the life of one who is when those suffering from a terminal disease who suffer from painful diseases has expressed the wish to kill themselves, perhaps with the assistance of a doctorbe assisted to die in order to avoid what is seen to be as unecessary and unbearable suffering. The term literally means "good death" (εὖ + Θάνατος). Thus it It is sometimes called ''assisted suicide'' or, very often in recent times, it has been (euphemistically) called "dying with dignity."Likewise when a doctor removes treatment, for the purpose of death this too falls under the definition of euthanasia.
==The issue== For the medical community, this issue brings up complicated tough ethical problems. For example, does an individual Does a person have the right to choose death as an option? Euthanasia also raises the question idea of whether or not a doctor should participate in such a practice. These are very difficult issues to face, but ones that must be confronted when dealing with euthanasia.
A person must first realize that euthanasia is a subject that is not easily defined. The origin of the word "euthanasia" comes derives from two ancient Greek terms meaning "good death." The following shows us the that there are three ways in categories to which euthanasia can be performed: #By an affirmative act designed to bring about death, such as the injection of air into a person’s veins; #By refusing to commence or continue further medical treatment required to maintain life; #By refusing to commence or continue further "heroic" or "extraordinary" measures, such as the use of a heart-lung machine following a massive stroke. The first two instances are commonly referred to as ''euthanasia by action'' and ''euthanasia by omission''. Euthanasia is not a black-and-white issue, and the ethical concerns are even more complicated. As euthanasia has become more prevalent, the medical community has had to adjust its understandingclassified.
The Orthodox Church understands life as a gift from God and that this gift must be valued.
The opposition that is put forth to this argument is as follows; should not we allow a person to die when it is their time and not to prolong their life extensively? Subsequently, is a physician murdering in the strictest sense if he was to withhold the treatment? "The religious person's concern that ending one's life is playing God may seem to be predicated on the indefensible assumption that respecting the natural ordering of events is respecting the divine ordering of events. According to this view, letting nature have its way is interpreted as letting God have his way."{{citation}} This is rather difficult as one can see. From the definition of the church's teaching it is murder. The doctor had a method of treatment available and did not administer it instead allows the patient to die. Life is extremely important and we must exhaust every possible alternative in order to prolong an individual's life. The issue of euthanasia in recent years has seen intense legal debates as well. In 1994 , the state of Oregon passed a law making euthanasia legal. According to this law, if an individual has been diagnosed with a terminal condition, he has they have the option of requesting to request a prescription for of a lethal injection. His The doctor is legally freed from any liability. In October of 2005 , the law went before the U.S. Supreme Courtdue to intense opposition. However, on [[January 17]], 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision in favor of the state of Oregon's decision in a 6-to-3 vote. Legalizing euthanasia is something that presents yet another complication for a new era in the medical world. Besides Oregon, euthanasia is legal as a practice to be performed in Holland and Belgium.
==Living wills==
Part of the legal ramifications include having a living will. A living will is a contract made while a person is still living. It is a document that verifies the intentions of the person in the event of debilitating injury or illness. It is usually accompanied by a power of attorney. A power of attorney is a contract in which someone is selected to make life and death decisions should the person be unable to. Most More often, people delegate this the responsibility to a family member.
==Examples in the media==
In 2005 , the case of Terri Schiavo made headlines. This was the case of a woman who suffered brain damage and had been was since 1990 was in a lifeless state since 1990. Her husband had petitioned the been petitioning courts to allow him to remove her feeding tube. Finally, in March of 2005, the court sided in the husband's his favor, and Schiavo she died shortly after. There is also the infamous, Dr. Jack Kevorkian who has assisted many patients in their death. Kevorkian has in an eight year period, helped over one hundred people to die by administering different procedures. Very often the person was connected up to a machine that had canister of carbon monoxide. Kevorkian also is known to have injected lethal drugs as well. Both of these particular cases, Terri Schiavo and Dr. Kevorkian, had highly controversial subjects. The case of Terri Schiavo forced to people to consider the rights of the patient, while Dr. Kevorkian made many examine whether or not a physician has the right to aid in a person's death. Another critical case that concerned euthanasia was that of Paul Brophy in 1986. Brophy was a 49-year-old man from Massachusetts who suffered an aneurysm, which later that year produced a brain hemorrhage. As a result, he was left in a vegetative state.
[[Category:Bioethics]]
[[Category:Ethics]]