Background: Euthanasia is one of the most challenging issues in end-of-life care and has predominantly been examined from ethical, legal, and religious perspectives. However, its relationship with the conceptual foundations and fundamental goals of the philosophy of health sciences has received comparatively little attention. The present study aimed to analyze this relationship and provide a philosophical interpretation of euthanasia within the framework of the philosophy of health sciences.
Methods: This documentary-analytical study was conducted through a purposive review of relevant scientific and philosophical literature. Data were analyzed using conceptual analysis, logical reasoning, reductio ad absurdum, and thought experiments. The concept and essential components of euthanasia were first clarified, followed by an examination of its relationship with the foundational principles and goals of the philosophy of health sciences.
Results: The findings indicated that the defining feature of euthanasia is the deliberate termination of human life with the intention of relieving suffering. Philosophical analysis further demonstrated that the preservation of life, the promotion of health, and the alleviation of suffering constitute interconnected goals of the health sciences. Nevertheless, when relief of suffering is achieved through the intentional termination of life, its compatibility with the fundamental mission of the health sciences becomes philosophically problematic. Within this framework, euthanasia was found to be inconsistent with the core goals of the philosophy of health sciences.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that, independent of ethical, legal, and religious evaluations, euthanasia requires philosophical reconsideration regarding its relationship with the fundamental mission of the health sciences. By focusing on the conceptual foundations and goals of the health sciences, this study offers a distinct philosophical perspective that may contribute to the theoretical literature and promote further research in the philosophy of health sciences and end-of-life care.