Active voluntary euthanasia refers to the assisted taking of a person's life, where they are physically unable to take their own life and where they are able to give full consent with a sound mind. in fact the vast majority, of suicide attempts or intended suicide where the patient should be helped to overcome the problems they are suffering and which leave them feeling that suicide is their last option. These patients are NOT cases for legal active voluntary euthanasia. However, suicide is not a criminal offence. This means if someone wishes to take their own life they are legally permitted to do so. This does not allow for equality for a person who is physically incapable of taking their own life. Active voluntary euthanasia ensures that these physically deprived people have equal access to their life or death choices.
The Hippocratic Oath
It is the duty of physicians to protect life and allowing active voluntary euthanasia could undermine this and cause confusion with regards to the role of a physician and the oath that they work to uphold. However, legalising active voluntary euthanasia does not imply that it becomes a decision to be taken lightly. It assumes that the patient is fully informed of his/her medical condition, prognosis and all available treatments, including alternative remedies and therapies. The patient must also be committed to euthanasia which could be tested by leaving a time period between the initial decision and the act itself to allow them to carefully consider their choice. Any patient considered must be in a situation where they have no quality of life and no potential for any in the future whatsoever. The patient must also be competent to make the decision; this could be ascertained through psychiatric evaluation. Active voluntary euthanasia is necessary primarily in cases where there is no longer hope or chance of recovery and it