Ethunasia, controversial issue –Buhari

An Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, University of Ilorin, Dr Nimatah O. Buhari, has described euthanasia as a highly controversial issue.

Dr Buhari stated this last Tuesday (May 7, 2024) while delivering a lecture, titled “Mental Health Considerations in Euthanasia Decisions” organised by the Euthanasia Protection Initiative (EPI) at the Moot Court, Faculty of Law University of Ilorin.

The medical scholar encouraged stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions to find alternative approaches that would enhance the well-being and dignity of individuals while upholding the principles of ethics and respect for human life.

Dr Buhari explained that Euthanasia, which is often referred to as “mercy killing” or “assisted suicide,” is a deliberate act of ending a person’s life to relieve him from suffering, due to terminal illness or unbearable pain.

She, however, maintained  that the sanctity of life, concerns about potential abuses, religious and cultural beliefs, legal considerations, and the importance of community support all contribute to the strong opposition to the practice.

Also speaking, a Professor of Medical Ethics and founder of EPI, Bashir Omipidan, said that the primary objective of the programme was to equip future leaders in the healthcare sector and society as a whole with the necessary knowledge and empathy to navigate complex moral dilemmas and the significance of ethical decision-making in healthcare.

 Prof. Omipidan, who is a former  Director of the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), University of Ilorin, emphasised that incorporating such education will contribute to the development of compassionate and informed leaders who would be able to address challenging moral issues effectively.

The former Director said that the foundation seeks to make a meaningful difference and promote a greater understanding of the implications of euthanasia.

In her remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Nimhat Modupe Abdulraheem, said that life is sacred and humans do not have the right to end it.