Final answer:
Euthanasia is sometimes called "mercy killing" and can be passive or active. It's aimed at ending suffering and can be voluntary or nonvoluntary. The subject is controversial and invokes varied philosophical and ethical perspectives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sometimes euthanasia is called "mercy killing." This term refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. There are several types of euthanasia, including passive and active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia occurs when life-sustaining treatments are withheld, while active euthanasia involves taking specific steps to cause a patient's death. Euthanasia can also be voluntary, involving the patient's consent, or nonvoluntary, where the patient is unable to consent and another party makes the decision on their behalf.
Although voluntary active euthanasia is illegal in the United States, certain states permit PAS under "death with dignity" laws. This practice involves physicians providing patients with the means to end their own lives. PAS has sparked significant ethical debates, particularly concerning the physician's role in such actions and the potential slippery slope effects of legalizing euthanasia.
Philosophical perspectives on euthanasia vary, with some arguing that it can be a compassionate choice that allows individuals to die with dignity, while others maintain that it contravenes the ethical responsibilities of the medical profession. Figures such as Peter Singer advocate for euthanasia from a utilitarian perspective, whereas ethicists like James Rachels argue for the preferability of active euthanasia over passive euthanasia to promptly alleviate suffering.