What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?

Assisted dying, assisted suicide, and euthanasia are terms often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct meanings.

Assisted Dying

Assisted dying refers to a situation where a terminally ill individual chooses to end their own life with the help of a doctor or caregiver. This may involve the prescribing of medication by a physician that the individual can ingest to bring about their own death.

Assisted Suicide

Assisted suicide is similar to assisted dying but specifically involves someone actively assisting another person in ending their life. This could include providing the means for the individual to end their own life, such as a lethal dose of medication.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the act of ending a person’s life to relieve their suffering. This can be voluntary, where the individual requests euthanasia, or involuntary, where the decision is made by someone else, usually a doctor or caregiver. Euthanasia is illegal in many countries, but there are some places where it is permitted under certain circumstances.

These practices raise ethical and legal considerations, and there is ongoing debate about the morality and legality of assisted dying, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.