Final answer:
The US Constitution does not explicitly guarantee the right to die or decline medical treatment. Interpretations of the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments and state laws like Oregon's Death with Dignity Act influence this area of law. Voluntary passive euthanasia is legal in the U.S. and involves directives like DNR orders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The right to die or to decline medical treatment is not explicitly guaranteed by an amendment to the US Constitution. However, various legal and ethical interpretations around the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments, which ensure the right to privacy and liberty, have influenced decisions related to these questions. Additionally, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, which means individual states can pass laws regarding the right to die, as seen with Oregon's Death with Dignity Act and similar laws in other states. Voluntary passive euthanasia, which includes practices like a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order or living will, is legal. It is important to differentiate this from assisted death, which is a separate issue and remains controversial.