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8 Little Known Facts About Euthanasia That You Need To Know

  • The term ‘Euthanasia’ comes from the Greek word, that means ‘good death’.
  • The Hippocratic Oath that doctors take states- “I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel”.
  • Out of the 196 countries in the world, only 9 countries have legalized euthanasia or assisted death.
  • Euthanasia can be categorized into 4 types.
  • Voluntary Euthanasia – When a competent person makes a voluntary and enduring request to be helped to die.
  • Involuntary Euthanasia – To end a person’s life without their knowledge or consent.
  • Active Euthanasia – To end a person’s life by using drugs, whether by oneself or with the aid of a physician.
  • Passive Euthanasia – To end a person life by not taking the necessary and ordinary action to maintain life, like withdrawing water, food etc.
  • Euthanasia is mostly administered by giving lethal doses of painkiller or other drugs.
  • Though euthanasia is still illegal in England, King George V was euthanized.
  • Despite Euthanasia being generally illegal in India, there is a tradition of forced euthanasia in South India.
  • In 2010 Hrithik Roshan starred in a Bollywood film called Guzaarish, which portrayed euthanasia, opening up a huge debate nationwide.
  • Supreme Court of India legalized passive euthanasia on 7 March 2011 following the Aruna Shanbaug case.

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