Book Abstract
This book serves as a vital resource for clinicians, ethicists, legal experts, veterinarians, and policymakers navigating the moral and practical complexities of euthanasia in its many forms.
Euthanasia and assisted death occupy a complex ethical terrain encompassing deeply held values, legal frameworks, clinical practice, and emotional consequences?for both humans and animals. Human and Animal Euthanasia: Medical, Moral, and Legal Controversies offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the convergences and divergences between human and animal euthanasia, illuminating contested areas of morality, law, and clinical care.
The book clarifies euthanasia, assisted suicide, and withdrawal of life support in both human and veterinary contexts. It maps moral reasoning frameworks?including secular natural law arguments asserting that ?it is always a serious moral wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human person? alongside utilitarian and autonomy-based justifications for mercy killing or ending suffering.
Human euthanasia laws vary widely: active euthanasia remains prohibited in most jurisdictions, while select countries permit physician-assisted dying under strict criteria (e.g., terminally ill, judged mentally competent); passive euthanasia via living wills is legal in India since 2011. Legal scholars debate whether consent should mitigate criminal liability or require full prohibition . Central legal concerns include safeguards against abuse, informed consent processes, and accountability mechanisms.
