Last update:
03-Jun-2020

Euthanasia poses complicated and controversial bioethics issues, to which much attention has been devoted in recent decades. The definitions of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide vary from country to country, creating a variety of controversy and misconception. In general, euthanasia is defined as the case in which a person, usually a physician, acts intentionally to end the life of a patient, using medical methods such as injection with a deadly substance. Physician assisted suicide refers to the case where a doctor consciously helps a patient to commit suicide by providing him(her) with assistance in any way, such as by supplying relevant information or the means of committing suicide. Essentially, medically assisted suicide is the case in which the patient commits suicide with the help of the physician, for example by taking a lethal dose prepared by the physician. Article 300 of the Greek Penal Code relates to euthanasia and states that "whoever decided and executed a homicide after a great and persistent demand of the victim and out of pity for the person suffering from an incurable disease is punishable by imprisonment". In international law there is no common line between the various different countries. In general, even in countries where euthanasia is allowed, the legislation is extremely strict regarding the conditions and the requirements under which euthanasia may be carried out. Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are allowed in Colombia, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada. In addition, physician assisted suicide, but not euthanasia, is allowed in Switzerland and in five states in the United States of America (USA). Public support for euthanasia and physician assisted suicide is constantly increasing in both the USA and Western Europe, while the converse is the case in Central and Eastern Europe. In general, being a white male, and in a lower age group, and not being religious are associated with greater support for euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.

Key words: Ethics, Euthanasia, Legal framework, Physician assisted suicide.