The International Process of Euthanasia Legislation Based on a Comparative Law Perspective

Abstract

The question of whether euthanasia is a means for the elimination of misfeasance has always been the focus of international attention and difficulty. Traditional studies on euthanasia have been devoted to exploring the rationality as well as the legality of euthanasia. Meanwhile, the legislative techniques of euthanasia were explored on the basis of the existing studies on euthanasia. Instead, this paper is dedicated to examining the reasons inherent in the legality of euthanasia in various countries. The current international situation with regard to euthanasia legislation was presented, and the background of countries in the world that currently have euthanasia legislation and their legal documents were described. The underlying reasons for the different attitudes towards euthanasia in countries with different development models were analyzed by comparing the attitudes towards euthanasia in developing and developed countries without euthanasia legislation, as well as the relevant drafts, proposals, and cases, and the corresponding recommendations were proposed to promote the way forward for euthanasia legislation in China. It is concluded that different factors, such as the economy, religion, and social risk-taking, have different influences on attitudes towards euthanasia in countries with different development models. For euthanasia legislation in mainland China, it is suggested that corresponding legislative proposals should be made in both substantive and procedural aspects, with Chinas national conditions taken into account.