Question

Passive letting die at a patient's or fily request is acceptable, but an active hastening of death or killing is not. The accepted rule is it is okay to a refusal of treatment, not not to request/perform an intentionally hastened death.

a. true
b. false

Answer 1

Voluntary passive euthanasia, such as through a DNR order, is legal and accepted in the U.S. Active euthanasia is generally illegal and viewed as unethical, but the debate is ongoing, with some arguing for its acceptance in circumstances where it could reduce prolonged suffering.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that it is acceptable to refuse treatment but not to actively hasten death is true. Voluntary passive euthanasia, which involves withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining measures with the patient's consent, is legal in the United States. This is often executed through an advanced directive such as a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order. In contrast, active euthanasia, which means terminating a patient's life using medical interventions, generally remains illegal and is viewed as unethical by many, including the American Medical Association. Notably, American ethicist James Rachels has argued that since both forms of euthanasia have the same intent—to end suffering—and the same outcome—the termination of life—active euthanasia could be considered preferable in certain cases to reduce prolonged suffering. Despite ongoing debates, certain forms of physician-assisted have been legalized in multiple states, distinguished from euthanasia by the patient being the one to perform the act of ending their own life.