Ethics of euthanasia

ASSISTED DYING a polarising and difficult conversation has once again captured the attention of the world. With cases like David Hunter’s who was released recently from prison for the death of his terminally ill wife and the retired nurse who allegedly sent ‘white powder’ to peers in an attempt to influence them to support the assisted dying bill in the UK have ignited the conversation yet again. Debate rages about the ethics of assisted dying, euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Spain made the pivotal decision to decriminalise euthanasia on June 25, 2021, and in the year following that decision 180 euthanasia were carried out. Traditionally, assisted dying laws focused on terminal illnesses and unbearable suffering. However, some jurisdictions have begun to include nonterminal conditions like mental health disorders as grounds for assisted dying. In Canada and the Netherlands, psychological suffering and an ‘accumulation of old age disorders’ are now considered valid reasons for assisted dying.

This expansion of eligibility criteria introduces an ethical dilemma. Critics warn of a slippery slope, where the line blurs between compassionate end­of­life care and the potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The question arises: How far can the boundaries of assisted dying be stretched without compromising morality and legality?

Across the globe, several