Euthanasia in Guatemala

Euthanasia in Guatemala
Euthanasia is the patient's right to decide the manner and time of his death. Its purpose is to free
the person from their suffering caused by the illness they suffer from. For a long time, a discussion
has been created around the topic, whether it should be included within the legal system or not.
Very few countries have it legalized and Guatemala is no exception.
Definition:
Euthanasia is derived from the Greek "eu" which means good and from "thanatos" which means
death , that is, a dignified or good death. It consists of an act or omission whose responsibility falls
on medical personnel or individuals close to the patient, who causes his immediate death in order
to avoid unbearable suffering or the artificial prolongation of his life.
It can also be defined as the right of the patient to decide the manner and time of his death and
which aims to free the person from the intense suffering caused by the illness he suffers from
(which is terminal or serious).
In order for it to be considered as such, two requirements must exist:
 The patient must suffer from a terminal illness
 The staff must have the express consent of the patient
Legal Regulation
Currently there is no regulation on euthanasia, so it cannot be applied, if someone practices it
without the consent of the person it would fall under the crime of homicide (it would be very
difficult to prove that it was with the consent of the person) and If it is proven that it was with
their consent, it would fall under the crime of inducing or assisting suicide.
Euthanasia for and against

Like any concept, euthanasia has defenders and detractors:
1. The defenders of euthanasia.- They hypothetically say that giving death to another out of mercy
for their suffering or in response to their desire to die, is an act of mercy and solidarity, making
another person die sweetly and with dignity, determines that the ends are noble and altruistic,
even when the death of another is caused, with their consent to avoid physical pain or suffering of
all kinds, and which are considered unbearable.
They also argue that it is necessary to legalize and give social respectability to euthanasia since the
goal pursued and interpreted by its defenders is that human life does not deserve to be lived
except in certain conditions of plenitude. That is why they defend the following arguments:
a) The right to a dignified death, explicitly desired by those who suffer atrociously.
b) The right of each person to dispose of their life, in use of their individual freedom and
autonomy.
c) Regularize a situation that really exists. Given the fact of his persistence in hiding.
d) What progress means, suppressing the lives of the profoundly mentally deficient or the
terminally ill, since they are lives that cannot be properly called human.
e) Social solidarity to eliminate meaningless lives, which are a hard burden for family
members and society.
2.- The detractors of euthanasia: They define euthanasia as compassionate homicide, it is an

inhumane crime, when a human being kills another, consciously and deliberately. God is the only
one who can take life.
One cannot leave one's life to chance and the decisions of others. Euthanasia involves
intentionally suppressing life and is classified as a crime by legal law.
Since pain and death are phases and processes of life, we must not refuse to live life, we must
admit the naturalness of life and not refuse to see a reality that can cause denaturalization and
vital failure.
Euthanasia is an outdated solution, and it is also a serious violation of God's Law because it is the
deliberate and morally unacceptable elimination of a human person.
Forms of euthanasia
As in every concept and thought there is the active and the passive, in euthanasia there are also
two forms:
 Passive euthanasia: Refers to natural death, this originates when the use of instruments
that support life or those supplies of medications is suspended, in such a way that death
occurs that is not contrary to natural law.
 Active euthanasia: It is the direct mediation that causes the death of the patient, putting
an end to their suffering. In general, the defenders of this option agree on the need for
there to be preconditions that allow it to be carried out, such as the direct request by the
patient or terminally ill person to want to end their life.
The impossibility of medicine to save him, the uselessness of drugs to prevent his pain and
suffering and the consent of doctors and family members.
Assisted suicide is loosely related to euthanasia and originates when someone gives information
and the necessary means to a patient so that they can easily end their own life and this is probably
done because the person who wants to die requests it. We consider assistance or cooperation in
suicide a form of euthanasia.
The emotional effect of believing that one is eliminating the pain or deficiencies of others is a
necessary element of euthanasia; Otherwise we would be facing other forms of homicide.

Euthanasia in Guatemala

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Euthanasia in Guatemala

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Euthanasia in Guatemala

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Euthanasia in Guatemala

In order for it to be considered as such, two requirements must exist:

 The patient must suffer from a terminal illness

 The staff must have the express consent of the patient

Euthanasia for and against

2.- The detractors of euthanasia: They define euthanasia as compassionate homicide, it is an

You might also like