Does mental illness affect a person's ability to receive euthanasia?

Answer 1

The request to have one's life terminated by a physician as a mercy killing has been endorsed in some countries (Belgium and The Netherlands). In the scientific literature, euthansia has been associated with the terminally ill and depression. Some credible studies (because one must not believe all studies and must critically appraise them along evidence based medicine guidelines) have been conducted. This is a hotly debated topic. The main issue being that it is suicide stemming from depression. Those who deny the prescence of depression assess depression by questionnaires that are in the third person (ie either observed behaviors or by direct inquiry: How do you feel? Do you think life is worth living...etc). Qualitative, first person, experiential assessment is very difficult and has not yet been done or published. The reason being the difficulty in analysis and reporting. A qualitative assessment is highly individualized and subjective: two enemies of quantitative research. So mental illness/unrest maybe a reason for euthanasia. Doctors take an oath to do no harm, and killing another (besides in self defense) lies in the domain of harm. Individuals who are suffering and wish to die (remember the "English Patient") may require a loving supportive network more than dying. Although this maybe difficult at times, this very difficulty is more of a reason for us to support them till the very end: the natural end.