EUTHANASIA

MEANING
LITERAL MEANING
Euthanasia (from Greek: ; "good death or
thanatos; "death") is the practice of intentionally
ending a life in order to relieve pain and suff ering.
TECHNICAL MEANING
The intentional putting to death of a person with an
incurable or painful disease intended as an act of
mercy. Active euthanasia is: A mode of ending life in
which the intent is to cause the patient's death in a
single act (also called mercy killing).
The word "euthanasia" was fi rst used in a medical
context by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, to refer
to an easy, painless, happy death, during which it
was a "physician's responsibility to alleviate the
'physical suff erings' of the body."

TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
a) Active Euthanasia:
An act of commission by taking action that leads to death,
e.g. a lethal injection.
Michael Manning, MD, Author, in his 1998 book Euthanasia
and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Killing or Caring?, defi ned
voluntary active euthanasia as: "Intentionally
administering medications to cause the patient's death at
the patient's request and with full, informed consent."
b) Passive Euthanasia:
Letting a person die by taking no action to maintain his
life, like stopping giving medications to one whose life is
dependent on it.
Withholding medical or surgical procedures and lifesupport systems.

Voluntary euthanasia
occurs at the request of the person who dies.
Non-voluntary euthanasia
occurs when the person is unconscious or
otherwise unable (for example, a very young baby
or a person of extremely low intelligence) to make
a meaningful choice between living and dying,
and an appropriate person takes the decision on
their behalf.
also includes cases where the person is a child
who is mentally and emotionally able to take the
decision, but is not regarded in law as old enough
to take such a decision, so someone else must

Indirect Euthanasia
This means providing treatment (usually to
reduce pain) that has the side effect of speeding
the patient's death.
Since the primary intention is not to kill, this is
seen by some people (but not all) as morally
acceptable.
A justification along these lines is formally called
the doctrine
Assisted
Suicideof double effect.
This usually refers to cases where the person who
is going to die needs help to kill themselves and
asks for it. It may be something as simple as
getting drugs for the person and putting those
drugs within their reach.

PEOPLE INVOLVED

A patient in
a persistent
vegetative
state who is
awake but is
not aware of
self or the
environment.

Patient in
terminal
illness who
may or may
not be
subject to
life-support
machine.

People
suffering
from great
pain.

LAWS(MALAYSIA)
Article 3 of The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security
of person.
Article 5 Federal Constitution:
No person shall be deprived of his life or personal
liberty.
save in accordance with law.
Malaysia fatwa committee : the Committe is of the
view that to terminate the life of an individual before
his death is confi rmed by using any method and for
any reason, is prohibited in Islam.

CONT.
In relation thereto, the committee has decided that the act of
hastening death through the practice of euthanasia (whether
voluntary, non-voluntary or involuntary) or mercy killing is
prohibited in Islam as it is equivalent to an act of murder and
it is also against the Code of Medical Ethics in Malaysia.
The decision is consistent with the decree of Allah s.w.t in
Surah an-Nisa, verse 92 which means: And never is it for a
believer to kill a believer except by mistake
Hadith of Rasulullah s.a.w: as reported by an-Nasaie, which
is translated as follows: Rasulullah s.a.w said: None of you
should wish for death. Either he is a doer of good, so perhaps
he may do more good, or he is an evildoer but perhaps he
will give up his evil ways.

Exception: In situations where medical experts have confi rmed

that the heart and/or brain of the patient has
irreversibly ceased to function and it is verifi ed that
the patient has no hope of living and is fully dependent
on a ventilator, the committee has decided that the
act of withdrawing the ventilator is allowed in Islam as
the death of the patient has been confi rmed by
medical experts and there is no longer any need for
any further treatment.
The same is applicable in cases where the medical
experts have confi rmed that the patient has no hope
for recovery and such patient is allowed to return; in
such a situation, the act of withdrawing defi nitive
treatment
and
continuing
with
only
supportive
treatment is permitted in Islam as this is not
considered to be a practice of euthanasia or mercy
killing which is prohibited.

ISLAMIC LEGAL MAXIM

that is Necessity makes the
unlawful lawful,
From the standpoint of the Syariah, the practice of
indirect euthanasia or double-eff ect medication can
be implemented to ensure that the patients suff ering
can be controlled and provided that it is not at all
intended to hasten death.

PROOF THAT ISLAM AGAINST

EUTHANASIA
Do not take life, which Allah made sacred, other
than in the course of justice.
Qur'an Al-Isra:33
When their time comes they cannot delay it for a
single hour nor can they bring it forward by a single
hour.
Qur'an An-Nahl:61
And no person can ever die except by Allah's leave
and at an appointed term.
Qur'an Ali-Imran:145

 The Prophet said: "Amongst the nations before you

there was a man who got a wound, and growing
impatient (with its pain), he took a knife and cut his
hand with it and the blood did not stop till he died.
Allah said, 'My Slave hurried to bring death upon
himself so I have forbidden him (to enter) Paradise.' "
Sahih Bukhari 4.56.669

 Yusuf al- Qaradawi, issued a fatwa that was quoted in

"Living Shari'ah: on Mar. 22, 2005:
"Euthanasia or Mercy Killing is the act or practice of
ending the life of an individual suff ering from a terminal
illness or an incurable condition, through lethal injection
or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.
This act is Islamically forbidden for it encompasses a
positive role on the part of the physician to end the life
of the patient and hasten his death via lethal injection,
electric shock, a sharp weapon or any other way. This is
an act of killing, and, killing is a major sin and thus
forbidden in Islam, the religion of pure mercy."

COUNTRIES THAT ALLOWS

EUTHANASIA
As of October 2015 , human euthanasia is legal only in the:-

-Netherlands
-Belgium
-Luxembourg.
Assisted suicide is legal in:- (enforceable in January 1, 2016).

-Switzerland,
- Germany,
-Columbia
- Japan,
-Albania
-US states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New
Mexico, and Montana