Legal Definitions - active euthanasia

Active euthanasia refers to the deliberate act of directly causing a person's death to relieve their intractable suffering. This involves a direct intervention, such as administering a lethal dose of medication, with the explicit intent to end life. It is distinct from passive euthanasia, which involves withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, and from physician-assisted suicide, where the patient self-administers the lethal agent.

• Example 1: Physician-Administered Life-Ending Medication (where legally permitted)
  Ms. Eleanor Vance is suffering from a rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease that has left her completely paralyzed, unable to speak, and in constant, excruciating pain. After extensive consultation with her medical team, family, and legal counsel, and having met all the stringent legal requirements in a jurisdiction where active euthanasia is permitted, Ms. Vance makes a clear and repeated request to end her life. A qualified physician then administers a specific medication intravenously, with the direct intention of causing her death to relieve her suffering.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates active euthanasia because the physician takes a direct, deliberate action (administering the medication) with the explicit purpose of ending Ms. Vance's life to alleviate her unbearable suffering. The act is a direct intervention to cause death.

• Example 2: Unauthorized Administration of a Lethal Dose
  Mr. David Chen is caring for his elderly mother, who is in the final stages of a terminal illness, experiencing severe and intractable pain that even strong palliative care cannot fully manage. Overwhelmed by her suffering and believing he is acting out of compassion, Mr. Chen secretly administers a large, fatal dose of a sedative to his mother, intending to end her life.

  Explanation: This scenario demonstrates active euthanasia because Mr. Chen performs a direct, intentional act (administering the overdose) to cause his mother's death, aiming to relieve her suffering. Regardless of the legal consequences or the ethical debate surrounding such an act, the *action itself* fits the definition of active euthanasia due to the direct intervention to end a life.