Queensland Health Law Practice Test

Voluntary euthanasia is defined as the process of terminating life at the request of the patient. This definition highlights the fundamental principle of consent, emphasizing that the individual who is experiencing suffering or terminal illness actively chooses to end their life. It is characterized by the patient's explicit and voluntary request for assistance in dying, often to alleviate unbearable pain or distress due to a medical condition.

This definition is crucial in understanding the ethical and legal dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as it involves respect for patient autonomy. Patients must be fully informed and capable of making this decision without coercion, ensuring that their wishes are paramount.

Other definitions offered describe concepts that do not align with the notion of voluntary euthanasia. Ending life without consent fundamentally contradicts the concept of voluntary choice and autonomy. Withholding medical treatment to hasten death, often referred to as passive euthanasia, involves allowing a patient to die naturally rather than directly causing death. A legal court procedure to authorize death suggests external authority intervening, which deviates from the personal choice aspect central to voluntary euthanasia.