Abstract
The paper contends that active euthanasia should never be legalized because it is morally wrong. The paper explores passive euthanasia, which is generally accepted when it is clear that a person wants to have no extraordinary measures taken to prolong his/her life. The paper discusses how nurses must be familiar with the complexities of euthanasia. The paper explains that a request for active euthanasia can result in a serious ethical dilemma for the nurse who is unprepared and who has not determined a personal ethical stance.

From the Paper
"Active euthanasia and assisted suicide will very probably never be legalized in Canada. I agree because the ethical principle relating to autonomy is violated in cases of assisted suicide, irrespective of whether or not the patient's consent is given. The view of the Canadian government on assisted suicide has been clear through the 1993 case of Sue Rodriguez. This woman was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease and requested the right to assisted suicide. A painful death was inevitable and she wished official approval of her eventual need for assisted suicide. The government's decision can be viewed in two ways. First of all, as stated by the court, "Fundamental justice required that a fair balance be struck between the interests of the state and those of the individual" (Kondro, 1993, p. 918). The principle at work was justice and determining what was the best course for all individuals. Assisted suicide, if legalized, can lead to abuse. The other viewpoint is that the court's decision was based on a slippery slope or fear of possible negative outcomes."

Tags:assisted, suicide, ethics, nurses, life-sustaining, treatment

Abstract
This paper contends that the euthanasia debate which is often heated and controversial, is part of the larger 'right to die' debate and is related to civil, personal freedom and liberty issues. In terms of a secular viewpoint and from the stance of legal and moral issues alone, the paper explains that euthanasia relates specifically to personal and individual freedom and should be morally and legally permissible. However, in the religious and non-secular context, the paper claims that active and passive euthanasia become severely problematic issues. The paper examines the theological and moral implications of any form of life-taking, including euthanasia, explaining that they are contrasted with religious teachings that emphasize sanctity of life and the relationship between the individual human life and God. The paper states that according to both the Judaic and Catholic perspectives and law, the implications of a religious perspective are that the patient does not have the sole right to his or her life and this life is, in a religious sense, an endemic part of the religious context from which it came.
Outline
Introduction
Brief Background
Active and Passive Euthanasia
The Jewish Position
Catholicism
Comparison and Conclusion

From the Paper
"In essence there are four types of Euthanasia which are generally referred to. These are active, passive, voluntary and involuntary. Active euthanasia, which is the most contentious form, is when a patient's life is ended in an active and intentional way, usually in order to reduce suffering or terminate what the medial practitioner may view as a hopeless case. Passive euthanasia on the other hand is taking no direct action to end life, while at the same time also not taking steps to extend life unnaturally. "It is when a doctor withholds any means in order to prolong the life of a patient." (Ibrahim, D.E. 2002) Voluntary euthanasia refers to a patient's desire to end his own life. This refers to the personal decision by an individual or patent to terminate his or her own life. Involuntary euthanasia refers to the non-involvement of the patient, usually because he or she is not capable of making any decisions; for example when the patient is mentally ill or in a coma. (ibid)"

Tags:voluntary, involuntary, active, killing

Abstract
This paper examines the moral issue involved in passive euthanasia of Down Syndrome infants with congenital defects. The paper presents different views of passive and active euthanasia and investigates the ethics of each.

From the Paper
"The topic for this research paper is Passive Euthanasia: Is it Immoral to Allow Down Syndrome Infants With Congenital Defects to Die? The thesis statement is that it is not immoral to allow a Down syndrome infant with congenital defects to die."

Tags:passive euthanasia, Down's Syndrome

From the Paper
"Euthanasia has become an important issue in the protection of human dignity. It has been in the news a great deal lately because of the crusade of the so-called "suicide doctor," Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who has "assisted" in some 17 or 18 suicides over the past few years, all of people who were facing some debilitating and painful degenerative disease. As medical science becomes more adept at prolonging life, but not necessarily at making that life valuable, euthanasia becomes an option to be considered by those who suffer, those who love them, and those who are charged with their care. Euthanasia comes from two Greek words meaning "good death" or "happy death," and the term refers to any action that brings a painless death to a person suffering from an injury, disease, or the ravages of age."

Abstract
This paper analyzes the article "Active and Passive Euthanasia," by James Rachels. It distinguishes between active and passive euthanasia and explains Rachels' arguments that active euthanasia is morally permissible. In addition, it discusses the extent to which his arguments illustrate Kantian and utilitarian considerations.

From the Paper
"Rachels is an advocate of physician-assisted suicide, or euthanasia, and he wants to convince the American Medical Association (AMA) to change their definition of euthanasia, allowing doctors to allow terminally ill patients with no hope of recovery to be euthanized. His arguments for euthanasia are effective and compelling, and though directed at physicians, they are of interest to anyone thinking about euthanasia for themselves or a loved one. Rachels discusses the differences between "killing and letting die" (Rachels 561), and discusses specific cases where allowing the patient to simply die without further treatment could actually prolong their life and their suffering. "Part of my point is that the process of the 'allowed to die' can be relatively slow and painful, whereas being given a lethal injection is relatively quick and painless" (Rachels 562). In fact, his arguments seem so logical; it is difficult to understand why euthanasia is not already used in terminal and the worst cases."

Tags:analysis, James, Rachels, moral, Kant, utilitarian, AMA, definition, philosophy, controversy

Abstract
This essay aims to show that there can be no moral distinction made between active and passive euthanasia. The writer presents the arguments towards making such a distinction, carried out by both the opponents and proponents of euthanasia, and exposes such arguments as spurious. The writer also shows how the AMA's criminalization of active euthanasia is riddled with the same incoherent logic. The paper shows why passive euthanasia is usually preferred, where the agents convince themselves that they are less culpable. But this is shown to be a result of muddled thinking, and usually leads to the more cruel option being taken.

From the Paper
"A common concession made by the opponents of euthanasia is that passive euthanasia may be allowed. However, as this essay argues, it is not possible to distinguish morally between active and passive euthanasia. If there is any difference between the two it can only be of interest to lawyers, because the law does distinguish between killing and letting die. The essay also goes on to expose the fallacy contained in the ruling of the American Medical Association which criminalizes active euthanasia, and thereby condones the passive form. It shows how that the same ruling of the AMA defines euthanasia through the mode of intention, and that by this criterion both active and passive euthanasia contain the same intention, that of terminating the life of the patient.
"From purely philosophical considerations, there is nothing to distinguish between the active and passive forms of euthanasia. To emphasize intention we may consider two cases in which a daughter murders her father in order to come into inheritance."

Tags:mercy, killing, compassion, willful, coma, life, support, machine

Abstract
This sophomore level paper is on Different States Of Euthanasia and lays emphasis on the two forms of Euthanasia, Active and Passive. This paper also reviews the differences between active and passive euthanasia. It also focuses on the worldwide arguments against and in favor of them. The paper also discusses in depth the situations when Physician assisted suicide become the only solution employed by the doctors for individuals who are suffering from severe illness.

Abstract
This paper states that doctor assisted suicide in the form of passive euthanasia and active euthanasia under certain conditions are morally justified. The author reasons that this moral justification is based on the basic ethical principle that human suffering should not be prolonged by medical science simply to extend physical life. The paper relates that rational egoism, which claims that the promotion of one's own interests is always in accordance with reason, justifies euthanasia because terminally ill human beings have the inherent right to protect their own interests by refusing medical treatment.

From the Paper
"Doctor assisted suicide in the form of passive euthanasia, and active euthanasia under certain conditions, is morally justified because of the basic ethical principle that human suffering should not be prolonged by medical science simply to extend physical life. Rational egoism, which "claims that the promotion of one's own interests is always in accordance with reason" (Mosely) justifies euthanasia, because terminally ill human beings have the inherent right to protect their own interests by refusing medical treatment. They are the moral guardians of their own lives and the ultimate authority to be considered; not doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, nor the government."

Tags:active, passive, euthanasia

Abstract
In this paper, the writer considers the various aspects of euthanasia. The writer looks at passive and active euthanasia and also discusses assisted suicide. The writer attempts to rationally explain or justify some or all of these activities by doctor.

From the Paper
"At one time death meant the termination of breathing and heartbeat. This definition worked until technology made it possible to sustain respiration and heartbeat almost indefinitely, even without brain activity. Brain death became the next standard of death and remains the standard used to determine death. Peter Setness writing in Postgraduate Medicine comments that medical science now offers us the ability to sustain life under remarkably adverse conditions. Patients, whose prognosis would have been deemed hopeless just a decade ago now routinely ... "

Tags:Active and passive euthanasia, mercy killing, physician assisted suicide, moral issues, medical ethics, patients' rights

Abstract
This paper is in two parts: a summary of Rachels' article about active and passive euthanasia and an evaluation of his argument. His argument is good, but is made weak by his example of Jones and the cousin.