Should euthanasia be legalized in Malaysia: a study from the legal, moral and religious perspectives / Farid Daud and Sylvester Meliau Benang

In the light of medical advancement, humanity advance rapidly in technology and every dream of a human is to live with a quality of life. Ironic as it is, these technology advancement despite doing good in saving lives, it also preserves lives. Here an individual at his death bed could lay alive for as long as anyone can imagine. A patient of such unremitting malice would succumb to euthanasia to ease their pain and depart peacefully rather than living without dignity. Currently, the status of euthanasia in Malaysia is illegal as governed by the local Penal Code however in certain medical practices in Malaysia itself draws a grey line of the practice of euthanasia as euthanasia itself could be classified in various classifications and interpretation. However, in other various countries from all over the world, their view on the legality of euthanasia is different as some countries do legalize euthanasia and enact laws and statutes pertaining it for the euthanasia to be conducted in the event of a range of conditions, circumstances and reasons. This research has been carried out to determine whether the status of euthanasia being illegal in the country be changed to cater to the wants and needs of Malaysian society currently as well as whether a patient or their family should be given full legal rights over their life to have euthanasia under any circumstances. This research looks into the issue of euthanasia through a legal, moral and religious point of view. It is based on the qualitative methodology where in, besides referring to books, articles, journals as well as the internet, interviews have been conducted with several physician who are well versed in the issue at hand to get a better insight into the topic. This research aims to answer 3 questions namely, should a patient seeking euthanasia be given the right to do so in any situation and circumstances, is the provision in Malaysian Penal Code regarding euthanasia is sufficient in catering to the human rights of the patient and finally, should the current legal status of euthanasia in Malaysia be altered to meet the necessity of contemporary society in the country. This research also proposes to alter the status of euthanasia if necessary to best fit the requirements of the society and morality in Malaysian context.