THE euthanasia is defined as the conduct by which one brings a terminal patient, or bearer of incurable disease that is in constant suffering, a death fast and painless. It is provided by law, in Brazil, as crime of homicide.
Among the forms of this practice there is the differentiation between active euthanasia, when there is assistance or the participation of a third party - when a person intentionally kills the sick person by means of an artifice that forces the cessation of the patient's vital activities - and the passive euthanasia, also known as orthothanasia (correct death – ortho: right, thanatos: death), which consists of not performing resuscitation procedures or procedures that have the sole purpose of prolonging life, such as drugs aimed at resuscitation of the sick or life support machines such as artificial ventilation, which would momentarily remedy the cause of the patient's death and not would properly consist of treating the illness or suffering of the patient, serving only to prolong biological life and, consequently, the Suffering.
Literature dealing with this theme is still scarce in Brazil, since the theme is a taboo and generally associated with assisted suicide. However, those who advocate for "good death", as referred by them, the differentiation of assisted suicide with the argument that orthothanasia, or passive euthanasia, is nothing more than allowing the individual in a state terminal, with an incurable disease and who consciously demonstrates desire, can go through the experience of death in a "dignified and without unnecessary suffering" way, without the utilization of invasive methods for the extension of biological life It's from human suffering. A natural death.
Euthanasia is not a recent dilemma, it is a discussion that permeates human history as it deals with such a complex and sensitive topic: individual choice of life for life, or the right to choose when suffering or pain can become a tangible justification for seeking death as a means of relief.
Euthanasia is a right legally provided for in some countries such as Netherlands and the Belgium, in cases for terminal patients or carriers of incurable diseases that cause physical and emotional suffering for the patient and their families. In other countries, however, it is possible for the patient to make a legal request for no resuscitation attempt in the case of critical stoppage of organs. It is important to highlight that euthanasia is an act of the patient's own individual will, when in a state of full consciousness, which guarantees him the choice between ending his suffering in life or continuing to fight. This is the main point of the discussion about the individual's right to choose life: the freedom of the suffering subject to determine whether his experience is justified either by their beliefs, individual will, or by simple compassion for those who would be affected by their death.
In Brazil, euthanasia is a crime provided for by law as murder, however, there is a mitigating factor that is verified in case the act was carried out at the request of the victim and with a view to alleviating latent and unavoidable suffering, which reduces the penalty to imprisonment from 3 to 6 years.
Debates on the subject are usually led by members of religious organizations, who argue that the life is a divine gift over which no human being has the right or the power to voluntarily terminate it, and by some health professionals who argue that illnesses that lead to prolonged suffering would be reduced if governments invested more in forms of health care with greater quality. Those who fight for its legalization are guided by the right of individual choice, regardless of religious belief, with regard to his own life, always with a view to human dignity and the right to end suffering when there is no other alternative.
One of the greatest advocates of euthanasia, physician Jack Kevorkian, has assisted more than 130 terminally ill people in their deaths *
The subject is incredibly complex and has several sides to be seen, so it is important that it be exposed in a way that everyone understands. Films that deal with euthanasia are a good source of information. One of them is the movie you don't know jack (you don't know jack – 2010) which tells the true story of Jack Kervokian, a physician who performed euthanasia for terminally ill and acutely suffering patients.
Life, death and human suffering are always complex and difficult issues to be dealt with. However, this is a reality we are all subject to.
*Image credits: free / Shutterstock.com
by Lucas Oliveira
Graduated in Sociology
