Euthanasia debate in europe and in slovenia

Abstract

Respect for human life is one of the fundamental values of our civilisation. It is guaranteed by national constitutions as well as international agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights. In many countries, publicly expressed demands to acknowledge the right to euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide are on an increase. Two European States have legalised euthanasia, and Oregon in the U.S.A. has legalised the right to physician-assisted suicide. Elsewhere euthanasia remains a crime punishable as homicide. In the framework of the Council of Europe, initiatives have been taken to encourage better protection of human rights and dignity of the terminally ill and the dying. The majority of discussants recommend development of palliative care as the ethically acceptable alternative to legalisation of euthanasia. The Slovene National Medical Ethics Committee, as well as many Slovene physicians support this view.