Final answer:
Passive euthanasia involves withholding or withdrawing treatment to allow a patient to die sooner. Active euthanasia is when a patient's life is intentionally terminated through medical interventions. Voluntary euthanasia is conducted at the request of a patient, while nonvoluntary euthanasia occurs when someone else makes the decision on behalf of an incapable patient.
Step-by-step explanation:
Euthanasia can be classified into four types based on different factors:
- Passive euthanasia: In passive euthanasia, treatment is withheld or withdrawn with the expectation that the patient will die sooner than with continued medical intervention. An example of passive euthanasia is when a patient is taken off life support.
- Active euthanasia: Active euthanasia involves the intentional termination of a patient's life using medical interventions. This can be done by administering a lethal dose of medication. In countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, active euthanasia is legal under certain circumstances.
- Voluntary euthanasia: Voluntary euthanasia is conducted at the request of the patient. It occurs when a patient, who is of sound mind, explicitly asks for assistance to end their life due to their medical condition.
- Nonvoluntary euthanasia: Nonvoluntary euthanasia happens when a patient is not capable of making a decision regarding their own treatment, usually due to being in a vegetative state. In such cases, decisions regarding euthanasia are made by others, such as family members or legal guardians.