COMMON EUROPE - COMMON ETHICS - REMARKS ON THE PROBLEM OF EUTHANASIA

Developments in the Netherlands have shown that the problem of euthanasia has become associated with different points of view and differences in legislation within the various European countries. Using the definition of euthanasia as given in encylopaedias and dictionaries published within the course of the last 150 years as a basis, the author examines the development of the ethical aspect and legislation relating to ''merciful killing''. By considering examples from the literature on this subject, it is shown that in individual European countries there has been a divergence in developments in the area of assisted dying.