Review article

Legal aspects of euthanasia and assisted suicide

Danijela Rupčić orcid.org/0000-0001-5348-7447 ; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The paper aims to comprehensively present and analyse the definition of euthanasia and assisted suicide, given that their legal and social acceptability is being promoted through the use of euphemisms. Due to semantic engineering, it is difficult to distinguish what is and what is not euthanasia and, consequently, to choose what is morally right. Euthanasia is always a direct and deliberate homicide and therefore erodes the right to life as one of the fundamental human rights. The legal aspects of euthanasia and assisted suicide consist of a detailed analysis of all the elements that compounds them, especially the patients’ will. Self-determination is nowadays what most countries use as the legal basis for the legalization of euthanasia. Recently, there has been a rapid legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in a number of countries, that was achieved through one of the three models: judicial, legal or mixed. The paper analyses the arguments about the unacceptability of euthanasia and assisted suicide, as well as the semantically tailored right to die. The answer to the question of how to stop these radical decisions of individuals to end their lives should be found in ensuring the social and health care systems that promote palliative care.

Keywords

euthanasia; assisted suicide; legal aspect; right to die; murder

Hrčak ID:

327112

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/327112

Publication date:

20.1.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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