Euthanasia and the Law

A severely handicapped or terminally ill person should have the right to

choose to live or die. The right to live; the right to choose to live or die

should not only be a right allocated for bodied individuals of sound mind but

for all human beings. Euthanasia is a controversial issue which encompasses the

morals, values and beliefs of our society.

Euthanasia, literally defined means "good death". There are two types

of euthanasia, active and passive. Active euthanasia is the intentional killing

of a person by medical personnel either by a lethal injection or by denying

ordinary means of survival. The act of euthanasia called "passive euthanasia",

is committed by denying or withholding ordinary medical care to a patient.

Currently, under Canadian law euthanasia...