assisted dying / euthanasia
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assisted dying
Assistance in the dying process of a person, especially someone with an incurable illness. A distinction is made between active euthanasia (intentional killing), passive euthanasia (withholding life-prolonging measures), and assisted suicide.
Die Debatte über die Legalisierung von aktiver Sterbehilfe ist ethisch sehr komplex.
The debate about legalizing active euthanasia is ethically very complex.
The word consists of the verb stem 'sterbe-' (from 'sterben' — to die) and the noun 'die Hilfe' (help). So it literally describes 'Hilfe beim Sterben' (help with dying).
Das Thema Sterbehilfe wird in der Gesellschaft kontrovers diskutiert.
The topic of assisted dying is discussed controversially in society.
To specify the type of assistance, the word is often combined with adjectives such as 'aktiv' (active), 'passiv' (passive), or 'indirekt' (indirect). Typical verbs are 'Sterbehilfe leisten' (to provide assisted dying) or 'Sterbehilfe in Anspruch nehmen' (to make use of assisted dying).
Passive Sterbehilfe durch den Verzicht auf Behandlung ist in bestimmten Fällen erlaubt.
Passive euthanasia through withholding treatment is allowed in certain cases.
'Sterbehilfe' (assisted dying / euthanasia) is a technical term from law, medicine, and ethics. It is mainly used in formal and serious discussions and is not an everyday word.
Das Parlament debattiert über ein neues Gesetz zur Sterbehilfe.
Parliament is debating a new law on assisted dying.
suicide
'der Suizid' and 'die Sterbehilfe' can both have to do with the end of a person's life, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Suizid' means that a person intentionally ends their own life. The fixed expression is 'Suizid begehen' (to die by suicide). 'Sterbehilfe' means assistance in dying, especially for seriously ill people. Depending on the situation, this can involve different forms of assistance. The words can be confused because in 'Beihilfe zum Suizid' (assisted suicide), both topics come together. Even so, 'Suizid' refers to the person's own act, while 'Sterbehilfe' focuses on assistance by others.
Die Ärztin erklärte der Familie die rechtlichen Fragen zur Sterbehilfe.
The doctor explained the legal questions around assisted dying to the family.
Nach dem Suizid des Patienten sprach das Krankenhaus mit der Familie.
After the patient's suicide, the hospital spoke with the family.