Euthanasia and Psychology

 

Elderly Man and a Garden, 2023
Geoffrey W Sutton & Bing AI

Euthanasia is the termination of a life to end pain and suffering. Euthanasia is both an ethical, legal, and spiritual issue (e.g., Deak et al., 2017; Gielen et al., 2011). Ethicists consider different types of euthanasia. The active type refers to ending life by an active process such as injecting a drug. The passive type allows a person to die by withholding artificial life support. A related procedure is to withdraw life support from a patient who is on life support. Euthanasia may also be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia involves the consent of the patient. Involuntary euthanasia occurs without consent. Sometimes patients are not able to give consent because they are unconscious, but their wishes are known. Euthanasia may also be categorized by who is involved in the process. For example, euthanasia may be self-administered, administered by someone else, or self-administered with assistance. In the US, a small majority (55%) consider doctor-assisted suicide morally acceptable (Brenan, 2022).

Source

Sutton, G. W. (2023). Assessing spirituality & religiosity: Beliefs, practices, values, & experiences. Springfield, MO: Sunflower.

References

Brenan, M. (2022, June 9). Americans Say Birth Control, Divorce Most 'Morally Acceptable'. Gallup. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/393515/americans-say-birth-control-divorce-morally-acceptable.aspx



Deak, C., & Saroglou, V. (2017). Terminating a child’s life? Religious, moral, cognitive, and emotional factors underlying non-acceptance of child euthanasia. Psychologica Belgica, 57(1), 59–76. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.341


Gielen, J., Van den Branden, S., Van Iersel, T., & Broeckaert, B. (2011). The diverse influence of religion and world view on palliative-care nurses’ attitudes towards euthanasia. Journal of Empirical Theology, 24(1), 36–56.

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

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