INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSESSING PROS AND CONS “DEATH WITH DIGNITY”

Abstract

Whether it is called “dignified”, “proud” or “privileged death”, “voluntary killing”, killing at request”, “assisted suicide”, “mercy killing” or ”pity killing”… euthanasia’s legal, ethical and actual aspects have been the subject of discussions for centuries. The name of our topic, consisting of just two words, mercy killing, which are at first sight so contradictory (mutually exclusive), speaks for itself. In this paper the author underlines that, due to its increasing application, euthanasia has become unavoidable subject of criminal considerations and social interest. It draws the attention with its controversy, complexity, versatile forms of execution and possibilities for abuse. Through a prism of different theoretical streams and studies and reviews of its application in practice, the author at the very beginning of this paper presents the following view. Reviewing contemporary trends in the fled of legal regulation of euthanasia, comparative legislations meander through chaotic paths of mutually connected and confronted stands which can easily turn into a pure façade, that is into an illusion of ideal solutions. This is, unfortunately, the existing general frame within which we can seek answers to some of the questions that this topic raises.