LEGAL REGULATION OF EUTHANASIA

Iskanje odgovora na vprašanje ali pravica do življenja zajema tudi pravico do smrti, se zastavlja ljudem od zmeraj. Že v antični zgodovini so omenjenemu vprašanju posvečali veliko pozornost in oblikovali bolj ali manj zaokrožena stališča do tega človeškega vprašanja. Evtanazija v dobesednem prevodu pomeni dobro smrt in je kot sinonim za usmrtitev brez bolečin, predmet številnih razprav. Le-teh je v današnjem času zmeraj več predvsem zato, ker je medicina ustvarila velik napredek v smislu podaljšanja pričakovane življenjske dobe, hkrati pa je razvila pripomočke, ki človeka ohranjajo pri življenju, čeprav sam ni sposoben izvajati niti najosnovnejših življenjskih funkcij in si sam ali njegovi svojci zanj želijo evtanazijo. Ta se pojavlja v različnih oblikah. Tako poznamo aktivno in pasivno, prostovoljno in neprostovoljno ter posredno in neposredno evtanazijo (posredno imenujemo tudi metoda z dvojnim učinkom). V okviru nadzorovanega konca človeškega življenja govorimo tudi o samomoru z zdravnikovo pomočjo, pri katerem zdravnik pacientu priskrbi navodila ali sredstva, samo dejanje, posledica katerega je smrt, pa si zada pacient sam. Vprašanje legalizacije evtanazije je postalo aktualno šele v zadnjih dvajsetih letih. Pred tem je bilo njeno izvajanje v glavnem prepovedano predvsem zaradi močnega vpliva Cerkve, ki evtanaziji ostro nasprotuje, v Drugi svetovni vojni pa se je beseda evtanazija uporabljala za množična pobijanja »nearijcev«. Dovolitev evtanazije v posameznih državah danes je posledica dojemanja pravice do življenja kot pravice, ki daje posamezniku možnost svobodne odločitve o smrti. Dodaten argument njeni dovolitvi je pravica do dostojanstva, ki pa je človeku v veliki meri odvzeto, če priklenjen na bolniško posteljo v hudih bolečinah čaka na svoj konec. Pretresljive so zgodbe Nancy Cruzan, Ge. Pretty, g. Welby-ja in številnih drugih, ki so se pred nacionalnimi sodišči ali pred Evropskim sodiščem za človekove pravice borili za dovolitev izvedbe evtanazije, ki bi končala njihove muke. Prav primeri posameznikov, ki so pomagali pri samomoru ali kako drugače sodelovali pri smrti na prošnjo bolnika, so v mnogih državah privedli do dovolitve evtanazije. Le ta je sicer v večini primerov še zmeraj opredeljena kot kaznivo dejanje, vendar pa posameznik ni kazensko preganjan, v kolikor je bila evtanazija izvedena v okviru strogo določenih pogojev. Na ta način je danes evtanazija pravno dopustna na Nizozemskem, v Belgiji, Luxemburgu, nekaterih državah v ZDA,… V Švici dovoljujejo zdravnikovo pomoč pri samomoru, za ta namen pa so ustanovili tudi organizacije, kot sta Exit in Dignitas. Nasprotniki legalizacije opozarjajo, da pravica do življenja, ne zajema pravice do smrti (takšno mnenje je dal tudi Svet Evrope). Pravica do dostojanstva v tem smislu, pa pomeni skrb bližnjih za umirajočega. Dovolitev evtanazije po mnenju njenih nasprotnikov bi prinesla številne zlorabe in pritisk na bolne, naj se zanjo odločijo.Since ancient history people are wondering whether the right to life includes the right to die or not. They were dealing with this human issue, creating several views and making different arguments to their opinion. Euthanasia literally means a good death and it is a synonym for dying without pain. Nowadays it became an important issue, especially because of enormous medical advances that are helping people to live longer. The main problem at this point is prolongation of life even though people are terminally ill and incapable to conduct even the most basic life functions. That is why patients and their relatives wish to carry out euthanasia. In theory we know active and passive, voluntary and involuntary and indirect and direct euthanasia (also called method of double effect). In a framework of controlled ending of life we talk also about suicide with assistance, where doctor provides the patient with the instructions and the means to perform the act, but the act itself is performed by the patient. Legalization of euthanasia has become a question in the last twenty years. Before that, its application has been largely prohibited because of a strong influence of the Church, who strongly opposes euthanasia. In the Second World War, the word euthanasia was used for mass killing. Legalisation of euthanasia in some countries is the result of perception of the right to life as the right that gives the individual a free choice about death. Another argument for its legalisation is the right to live with dignity, which is deprived of a person, who is confined to a bed and is waiting for the end in severe pain. The stories of Nancy Cruzan, Mrs. Pretty, Mr. Welby and many others, who fought for permission to execute them by euthanasia, before the national courts or the European Court of Human Rights are shocking. Those examples of individuals who have helped in a suicide or otherwise participated in the death at the request of the patient, in many countries led to a legalization of euthanasia. Euthanasia is, in the majority of cases still defined as a criminal offense, but the individuals are not prosecuted, if euthanasia is performed under strictly defined conditions In this way, euthanasia is legally admissible in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, some states in the U.S.A.,… In Switzerland, doctors are allowed to assist in a suicide and for this purpose, organizations such as Exit and Dignitas were established. Opponents of legalization point out that the right to live does not include the right to die (such opinion is also given by the Council of Europe). Right to live with dignity in this sense, means taking care for the dying person by his beloved ones. Legalisation of euthanasia, according to its opponents would bring numerous abuses and pressure on the sick people to choose this way to die