History of Euthanasia

"I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel." ~ Hippocrates, Father of Modern Medicine (400 BC)

Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a person in a painless way. The term, 'Euthanasia' comes from the Greek words eu meaning God, and thanatos meaning death. Known also as mercy killing or assisted suicide, it is usually practiced on a terminally ill person. Euthanasia may be legal or illegal, depending upon a country's jurisdiction. For example, euthanasia is legal in countries like Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Albania, under the condition that the patient is suffering from chronic pain along with an incurable disease. In the United States, euthanasia is illegal, whatever may be the condition of the patient.

History of Euthanasia

Though Hippocrates mentioned and opposed euthanasia in the Hippocratic Oath (written around 400 BC), the ancient Greeks and the Romans were of the opinion that there is no need to preserve the life of a person who has no interest in living. Hence, voluntary euthanasia was allowed in the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.

According to the English jurisdiction of the 1300s, suicide as well as helping people to kill themselves were considered as a criminal act. The first law against euthanasia, known as anti-euthanasia was passed in New York, in 1828. Euthanasia, like abortion, had been a major topic for debate even in those days.

In those times, euthanasia was divided into two types, namely voluntary and involuntary. Euthanasia was voluntary when it was done with the consent of the patient/person; whereas involuntary euthanasia referred to killing a terminally ill person without his/her consent. Many religions and medical practitioners opposed the idea of euthanasia and strongly claimed it to be illegal.

In the 1930s, non-voluntary euthanasia was practiced for the first time by German physicians, to eliminate the diseased and disabled among the German people in closed gas chambers. The main purpose of the program was to get rid of handicapped children and people with psychiatric problems. By 1945, it was estimated that 300,000 Germans had been killed. The Nazis used the same gas chambers to exterminate captured Russians, gypsies and Jews.

In the 20th century, lot of organizations were formed to address the concerns regarding euthanasia. In 1935, the first group for legalization of euthanasia, called Voluntary Euthanasia Society, was formed by a group of doctors in London. In 1938, a similar organization, known as the Hemlock Society, was established in the United States. It is estimated that there are more than 60,000 members registered in this society.

There have been many cases of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia fought in the court. In 1935, Harold Blazer was arrested for performing euthanasia on his daughter, who was suffering from cerebral spinal meningitis for more than thirty years. However, during the trial, he was acquitted of the charges. In 1986, another doctor, Joseph Hassman, was charged guilty for administering a lethal dose of Demerol to his mother-in-law. He was fined and sentenced to two years imprisonment for the act.

In 1999, euthanasia became a public issue, with the imprisonment of Dr. Jack Kevorkian for conducting voluntary euthanasia on Thomas Youk (52), who was in the final stage of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Kevorkian was charged with second-degree murder and served eight years in prison (from 1999 to 2007). It is claimed that he had administered euthanasia for at least 130 other patients (in this case, patients took lethal injection themselves).

The debate on euthanasia is still going on. There are both pros and cons of euthanasia and whether to stand for or against euthanasia depends on the ideology and understanding of each individual.