You must have heard by now that people’s lives may be ended because they suffer from pains or terminal illnesses. In some cases, they are the ones that choose to have themselves killed and also go ahead to give permission for this action to be carried out. Well, here, we are going to find out more about euthanasia and where it is legal to perform the act in the United States.
What Is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia, also known as ‘mercy killing’ is the act of painlessly ending someone’s life in order to save him from the severe pains they are going through. The reason for doing this could be because the concerned person has a terminal illness or an incurable disease. It can also be because the person has a physical disorder that is incapacitating.
Kindly understand that there are legal differences between suicide, murder and euthanasia. If an individual takes his life despite suffering from any of the conditions we mentioned above (that is, a terminal illness, an incurable disease, or an incapacitating physical disorder) it is considered suicide if the country or state did not legalize euthanasia.
If the life of that person is ended by another person in the same country, it is considered murder, even though the ‘murderer’ meant well or followed the instructions of the deceased.
This is why you need to have information about euthanasia legal states so you don’t face criminal charges for doing something you believe is right.
Euthanasia Legal States
Euthanasia, as an act of actively ending people’s lives, is prohibited in the United States. There is no state that legalized its administration. This means it is not an option for even a physician to consider or he will be charged with murder.
Death with Dignity Act Legal States
All the same, death with dignity or medical aid in dying is legal in 12 states. These states are:
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington DC
All the same, our major concern in this case is to discover the euthanasia legal states and where it is restricted.
You may wish to know that MAID is only granted to patients that are mentally competent terminally ill, have 6 months or less to live, reside in the concerned states, and are up to 18 years old.
Euthanasia Restricted States
As you already know, euthanasia is restricted in the 50 states of the United States. Only MAID is allowed in 12 states.
How Is Euthanasia Administered?
Euthanasia, as you already know, is the act of ending someone’s life as a result of certain conditions (terminal illnesses, incurable diseases, and physically incapacitating disorder). It is not the willful killing of self or another person with deadly weapons or through other methods that is not an approved means of euthanizing.
Another thing here is that euthanasia must be administered painlessly. If you remember, the euthanized person is already passing through pains (physically, emotionally, psychologically and mentally). So the duty of a euthanizer is to make the person’s passing as painless as possible.
So, how do they administer euthanasia?
Let’s look at some of the commonest methods used in different parts of the world.
- Withdrawing the person’s artificial life support system or machines.
- Withholding or withdrawing treatments.
- Injection of lethal drugs commonly known as euthanasia solution
- Administering medications that relieves pains but hastens the individual’s death.
You need to understand that the approved euthanizing method varies according to countries and states. But this is only considered where it is approved. What this means is that if euthanasia is approved in your state, the state will provide specific methods that can be used to perform the act.
Why Do People Opt for Euthanasia?
In most cases, people opt for euthanasia when they are in severe pains and so wish for the peaceful embrace of death. However, this is just one of the reasons people wish to have their lives taken away.
In some cases, the reason for the choice could be to escape from psychological distress, incurable diseases, or any other sufferings that adversely affect their existence.
In all these instances, the reason for choosing euthanasia is to escape from what is beyond the person’s control.
All the same, in most instances, here are the reasons people wish to receive euthanasia:
- To escape from unbearable sufferings and physical pains.
- A feeling of loss of dignity, especially when the person depends on others for care and bodily function.
- Inability to participate in activities that make life meaningful to the person.
- Psychological distress cause by feeling like a burden to family members and caregivers.
- Choice of manner of death when plagued by an incurable disease.
- Fear of a decline in mental or physical abilities.
Who Can Grant Euthanasia?
Euthanasia is a very complicated issue. It is not just wished and granted haphazardly even where it is legal. What this means is that someone may wish to receive euthanasia but it will not be possible unless certain conditions are met.
So, in euthanasia performance, the following parties are involved:
- The first party is the state. This means the government has to legalize euthanasia before it can be performed.
- The second party in the euthanasia performance is the individual involved, who will make the request. This party may be override or replaced by close family member if the concerned person is unconscious or unable to take such decision.
- The third party in the euthanasia issue are the physicians and nurses, who are permitted to grant it. Note that family members or any other individuals or groups are not permitted to grant euthanasia.
Difference between Euthanasia and Death with Dignity Acts
It is important that we understand the difference between euthanasia and death with dignity acts. In euthanasia, also known as active euthanasia, the physician is active in the death of the concerned person. However, in death with dignity, the physician is only there to assist by providing the individuals with the means of ending it all by themselves.
Note that the conditions for euthanasia and death with dignity are the same. The only difference is that while the physician actively causes the death in one, they passively assist to cause death in the other.
Difference between Euthanasia and Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
Medical aid in dying is the same as death with dignity.
Controversies Surrounding Euthanasia
Of course, there are a lot of controversies surrounding granting euthanasia. While one group believe that people should be allowed the rights to make decisions over their lives and death as well as be given opportunities to end their sufferings and pains, the other group believe that euthanasia should never be granted. The reasons given by the opposition border on ethics, morality, sanctity of life, and fear of abuse.
Wrapping It Up
Euthanasia is not legal in the United States. Hence, anyone that performs the act is charged with murder. However, 12 states have legalized medical aid in dying. But certain strict conditions are attached to the act.