「安楽死」というのは、さらに「積極的安楽死」と「消極的安楽死」の二つに分けられるらしい。

“Euthanasia” apparently can be further divided into two types: “active euthanasia” and “passive euthanasia.”

「安楽死」というのは、さらに「積極的安楽死」と「消極的安楽死」の二つに分けられるらしい。

“Euthanasia” apparently can be further divided into two types: “active euthanasia” and “passive euthanasia.”

前者は医者が筋弛緩剤などを投入することによって、患者を耐え難い苦しみから救い死に導くもので、後者は人工呼吸器を外すなど、延命措置を中止することで患者を死に導くものだ。

In the former, a doctor administers muscle relaxants or similar substances to free a patient from unbearable suffering and bring about death; in the latter, death is brought about by stopping life-prolonging measures, such as removing a ventilator.

どちらも他者が患者を死に導く意味では共通しているが、後者の患者は人工的に生かされていた状況から解き放たれ、自然な死を迎えるのに対し、前者の患者は残された寿命を全うせず、人工的な死を迎えることになる。

Both are alike in that another person leads the patient to death; however, whereas a patient in the latter case is released from an artificially sustained state and meets a natural death, a patient in the former does not live out the remaining natural lifespan and instead meets an artificially induced death.

どちらも他者が患者を死に導く意味では共通しているが、後者の患者は人工的に生かされていた状況から解き放たれ、自然な死を迎えるのに対し、前者の患者は残された寿命を全うせず、人工的な死を迎えることになる。

Both are alike in that another person leads the patient to death; however, whereas a patient in the latter case is released from an artificially sustained state and meets a natural death, a patient in the former does not live out the remaining natural lifespan and instead meets an artificially induced death.

私がもし「安楽死」を選択肢の一つとして考えなければならなくなったとしたら、果たして自分の意思で冷静に残りの人生の生き方を選択できるのだろうか。

If I were ever forced to consider “euthanasia” as one of my options, would I really be able to calmly choose, of my own will, how to live the rest of my life?

「安楽死」という字面を見ると、「安らかに楽に死ねる」ように思うが、それは「安楽死」を経験した者、つまり、死した者にしかわからない。

Looking at the written term “euthanasia,” it seems to suggest that one can “die peacefully and easily,” but only those who have experienced euthanasia—that is, those who have died—can know whether that is really so.

「安楽死」という字面を見ると、「安らかに楽に死ねる」ように思うが、それは「安楽死」を経験した者、つまり、死した者にしかわからない。

Looking at the written term “euthanasia,” it seems to suggest that one can “die peacefully and easily,” but only those who have experienced euthanasia—that is, those who have died—can know whether that is really so.

しかし、その死が自身の命の火が尽きる前に人為的にもたらされるものだと知つた時、私は死の直前の苦しみの中で一体何を思うのだろうか。

But if I knew that my death was being artificially brought about before the flame of my own life had gone out, what would I think amid the suffering immediately before death?

「安楽死」というのは、さらに「積極的安楽死」と「消極的安楽死」の二つに分けられるらしい。

“Euthanasia” apparently can be further divided into two types: “active euthanasia” and “passive euthanasia.”

前者は医者が筋弛緩剤などを投入することによって、患者を耐え難い苦しみから救い死に導くもので、後者は人工呼吸器を外すなど、延命措置を中止することで患者を死に導くものだ。

In the former, a doctor administers muscle relaxants or similar substances to free a patient from unbearable suffering and bring about death; in the latter, death is brought about by stopping life-prolonging measures, such as removing a ventilator.

どちらも他者が患者を死に導く意味では共通しているが、後者の患者は人工的に生かされていた状況から解き放たれ、自然な死を迎えるのに対し、前者の患者は残された寿命を全うせず、人工的な死を迎えることになる。

Both are alike in that another person leads the patient to death; however, whereas a patient in the latter case is released from an artificially sustained state and meets a natural death, a patient in the former does not live out the remaining natural lifespan and instead meets an artificially induced death.

どちらも他者が患者を死に導く意味では共通しているが、後者の患者は人工的に生かされていた状況から解き放たれ、自然な死を迎えるのに対し、前者の患者は残された寿命を全うせず、人工的な死を迎えることになる。

Both are alike in that another person leads the patient to death; however, whereas a patient in the latter case is released from an artificially sustained state and meets a natural death, a patient in the former does not live out the remaining natural lifespan and instead meets an artificially induced death.

その流れを人間の手で変えてもいいのだろうか。

Is it really acceptable for human beings to alter that course with their own hands?

実際は患者の介護に疲れた家族や、医療費を支払えない息者を入院させている病院が「安楽」になれる「死」なのかもしれないと、時折疑間を抱く。

At times I wonder whether, in reality, it may instead be a “death” that brings “relief” to a family exhausted by caring for the patient, or to a hospital keeping someone admitted who cannot pay the medical expenses.

前者を「尊厳死」を呼ぶ場合も多く、私も「安楽死」を前者の意味で捉えている。

The former is also often called “death with dignity,” and I too understand “euthanasia” in the sense of the former.

人間が生まれ、そして死んでいくのは自然の営みの一部である。

Human beings being born and eventually dying is part of the workings of nature.

しかし、その死が自身の命の火が尽きる前に人為的にもたらされるものだと知つた時、私は死の直前の苦しみの中で一体何を思うのだろうか。

But if I knew that my death was being artificially brought about before the flame of my own life had gone out, what would I think amid the suffering immediately before death?

しかし、その死が自身の命の火が尽きる前に人為的にもたらされるものだと知つた時、私は死の直前の苦しみの中で一体何を思うのだろうか。

But if I knew that my death was being artificially brought about before the flame of my own life had gone out, what would I think amid the suffering immediately before death?