Concept of Death and Euthanasia: Do Sociocultural, Psychological and Religious Orientation Matter Besides Medico-Legal Decision?

Euthanasia, which earlier referred to ‘Good Dying’ evolved to connote ‘Assisted dying’. This has medical, legal and psychosocial implications. Netherlands is the country which legalised the process followed by few other countries. Cross-cultural acceptance and implementation of euthanasia is something that looks extremely difficult because it involves a number of cultural factors. It is closely associated with the connotation each culture gives to the concept of ‘death’. There are psychological, social, religious, political, medical and legal aspects associated with euthanasia or assisted death. The sociocultural variations across three continents, viz, Asia, Europe and Africa are projected. The ancient Indian concept of euthanasia and the contemporary social and legal reactions to euthanasia are discussed in this article.