Final answer:
Verification in euthanasia is the process of confirming all medical and legal requirements, including consent for voluntary euthanasia. It is necessary to protect patient's wishes, adhere to legal standards, and follow ethical practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of euthanasia, which means "good death", involves either passive euthanasia, where treatment is withheld or withdrawn, or active euthanasia, where a patient's life is terminated through medical means. Verification in the context of euthanasia refers to the confirmation of all legal and medical prerequisites before the procedure can take place. This includes assessing patient's consent in the case of voluntary euthanasia, verifying the medical diagnosis and prognosis, validating the legal requirements according to the jurisdiction, and ensuring that any advanced directives are respected.
In countries where euthanasia is legal, extensive protocols are in place to protect both the patient's and physician's rights and responsibilities, and verification is a critical step to ensure ethical practices are followed. With passive euthanasia, commonly seen with DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders, verification is required to ascertain the patient's wishes are clearly represented and understood. With active euthanasia, which is more controversial and highly regulated, verification also includes multiple layers of approval, often involving several medical professionals and legal experts.
Verification in euthanasia not only safeguards the patients but also tackles ethical concerns raised by philosophers like Peter Singer and James Rachels. Singer supports voluntary euthanasia to avoid unnecessary pain, while Rachels argues for the ethical permissibility and preference of active euthanasia over passive to immediately end patient suffering. In all cases, verification acts as a due process to maintain the delicate balance between autonomy, legal standards, and ethical practice in the administration of euthanasia.