The Netherlands and Belgium are the only countries in the world where the law has permitted euthanasia or mercy killing. The term Euthanasia may be defined as the deliberate killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her benefit. In February 2008, the country of Luxembourg too has passed a law to authorise and legalise euthanasia. Pro euthanasia arguments suggest that euthanasia or mercy killing is compulsory so patients will not be strained to remain alive entirely depending on machines.
Arguments against euthanasia are in plenty and one group of activists feel that it is a government mandated suffering. However, it appears somewhat like saying that a law against selling contaminated and tainted food is a government mandated starvation. Laws against euthanasia cases are in place to avert maltreatment and to defend people from dishonest and corrupt medical practitioners.
New England Journal of Medicine, in 1994, has published an article which advocated legalization of euthanasia not only for persons who have terminal conditions but also for those with “incurable debilitating illnesses”.
Though the debate for legalising euthanasia will last forever, but it is an accepted fact that many countries and legal bodies have started showing more interest and are looking seriously into the pros cons of euthanasia.
