Some media report that Israel just allowed euthanasia for the first time. It is not the case. The situation in question isn’t a case of euthanasia, but one of withdrawal of treatment. There is a lot of confusion on this topic, and many people confuse euthanasia with withdrawal of treatment (including 22% of people in Quebec).
In this recent Israeli case, the court allowed the disconnection of life support machines keeping a man alive. There is a significant difference between euthanasia, which is to intentionally cause death, and treatment withdrawal, which allows for a natural death.
This Israeli patient wasn’t intentionally killed – he died naturally from his condition.
However, it appears that this judgment will lead to a debate on assisted suicide in the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament). They have introduced an assisted suicide bill (not a bill to allow euthanasia).
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2016
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