THE NATURE AND LEGAL ASPECT OF EUTHANASIA IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Euthanasia or the practice of assisting persons suffering from painful or incurable diseases or incapacitating physical disorder to die is not new to Nigeria. In the pre-colonial era it is a well-known practice in our traditional system that where an individual in a critical medical condition defies all know medication, he is left to die by withholding food or further medication. However, modern legal framework in Nigeria criminalises euthanasia. In realisation of the legal nature of euthanasia in Nigeria, the authors proceeded to critically examine the legality of Euthanasia under the Nigerian law as well as the associated challenges to the medical profession, for instance, when confronted with administration of blood-transfusion as recommended life saver options. The authors therefore maintained the need for specific legislative enactment that will in certain circumstances accommodate euthanasia, mercy killing or assisted suicide as well as a proviso in advanced medical directives empowering medical practitioners administer appropriate treatment, even in face of irreversible condition tantamount to mercy killing, especially when it comes to the issue of assisting with third-party blood