Euthanasia is an action or omission done with the intention of causing another person’s death.
Euthanasia by action can be injecting lethal drugs in a patient with the intention of deliberately ending that person’s life.
Euthanasia by omission can be witholding food and water from a patient who is not imminently dying with the intention of causing that person’s death. This is euthanasia by dehydration.
Food and water are the basic necessities of life and ought to be provided to all those who can assimilate them.
Euthanasia is the total abandonment of vulnerable individuals.
Excellent palliative care provides a positive and compassionate response to a dying patient’s needs.
Dame Cecily Saunders, the founder of palliative care called it ELC: Efficient Loving care.
Mark Pickup, a Canadian disability rights advocate who has multiple sclerosis said that “dignity is not injected into somebody’s bloodstream when thay are at their lowest point.” Indeed , there is no “death with dignity” with euthanasia.
