ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the debate on euthanasia and related concepts within the legal and socio-cultural contexts of Nigeria. It embraces Sneiderman's useful taxonomy for legal discourse on decision-making at the end of life. The chapter suggests that Nigeria operates a conceptual framework that is essentially anti-euthanasia. But it is doubtful that Nigeria's current and traditional approach to euthanasia can withstand the country's progressive integration of technology into its healthcare delivery system. The chapter also suggests that sufficient interrogation of the African worldview and mortuary discourses in Nigeria evinces an approach that favours the sanctity of life. In Nigeria, therefore, persons who need assisted death would have to confront the legal prohibition against assisted suicide. Modernization, religion and access to medico-legal instruments, such as Living Wills, are likely to incentivize the rejection of life-saving treatments in Nigeria. Emanuel and Emanuel have developed a model Medical Directive that seeks to avoid the deficiencies inherent in the traditional forms of advance directives.
