Ethical and Legal Debates on Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
explanatory Essay
1497 words
One of the greatest miracles in life, is life itself, but where is life there’s death. So as unexpected as life is shall death be the same, or can we choose on how we leave this earth. Over the years, the laws and ethical consternation regarding the debatable subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide, have been questioned frequently by society. Though the question may never be answered between euthanasia and assisted suicide being right or wrong, the fact of the matter is that people are still choosing their fate.
In America, euthanasia refers to a person knowingly, and purposely taking another persons life, or in a more factual meaning killing someone who in fact couldn’t kill himself. Euthanasia also known as “mercy killing” is in fact considered homicide, which would make it illegal in every state. Assisted suicide refers to person knowingly giving another person the resources to commit suicide. Assisted suicide is also considered as medical treatment in certain states (Oregon) is in fact legal if you meet certain requirements. So while euthanasia and assisted suicide both end up with the same conclusion, they both have different consequences that follow.
Another untold aspect between euthanasia and assisted suicide is the techniques both of them are carried out. While euthanasia could actually be done by any means ( a daughter poisoning her mother, or a husband smothering his spouse with a pillow), assisted suicide has to be performed humanely and correctly for it to be legal. Assisted suicide can be performed many ways, one of the most common known is Principle of Double Effect (Gibson, 2012). Principle of Double Effect is when a physician prescribes a patient a large amount of painkillers, with the intent of helping the...
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... kill (or destroy) yourselves, for verily Allah has been to you most Merciful.' (Quran 4:29). So based off of religion alone assisted suicide and euthanasia would be unethical and/or a sin in the eyes of their lord.
Underlying the ethical and legal debates over assisted suicide and euthanasia are a number of issues that focus upon the Patient, worldviews, family, and religion. Some positions on assisted suicide and euthanasia can be based upon assumptions regarding the psychodynamics to request assistance in suicide, which can be evaluated only with more research in the future. But In the meantime, a patient that is requesting assistance with suicide from a physician should receive their wish, but continue to search and try to identify other ways to relieve suffering. Although life is valuable and sacred a person should have the right to choose how they should die.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that physicians are likely to lose their job if they participate in euthanasia and assisted suicide. dr. jack kevorkian was an american pathologist and author.
- Explains that only a few places in the world allow euthanasia and assisted suicide. oregon was the first state to legalize it, according to oregon's "oregon death with dignity".
- Explains that the families of patients who were assisted in death by dr. kevorkian have a much greater degree of respect and acceptance for the patient's decision than the more usual sort of suicide.
- Explains the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide, and how they are performed.
- Explains the ethical and legal debates over assisted suicide and euthanasia are based upon the patient, worldviews, family, and religion.
Related
- analytical
- opinionated
- explanatory
- Euthanasiaanalytical essayThe applied ethical issue of euthanasia, or mercy killing, concerns whether it is morally permissible for a third party, such as a physician, to end the life of a terminally ill patient who is in intense pain. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu (‘well’) and thanatos (‘death’). It means a painless and gentle death. But in modern usage, it has come to imply that someone’s life is ended for compassionate reasons by some passive or active steps taken by another person. The euthanasia controversy is part of a larger issue concerning the right to die. Staunch defenders of personal liberty argue that all of us are morally entitled to end our lives when we see fit. Thus, according to these people, euthanasia is in principle morally permissible. Two additional concepts are relevant to the discussion of euthanasia. First, voluntary euthanasia refers to mercy killing that takes place with the explicit and voluntary consent of the patient, either verbally or in a written document such as a living will. Second, non-voluntary euthanasia refers to the mercy killing of a patient who is unconscious, comatose, or otherwise unable to explicitly make his intentions known. (Downing 1969) In these cases it is often family members who make the request. It is important not to confuse non-voluntary mercy killing with involuntary mercy killing. The latter would be done against the wishes of the patient and would clearly count as murder.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the euthanasia controversy is part of a larger issue concerning the right to die.
- Explains that there are several arguments in favor of the moral permissibility of euthanasia, including mercy, respect for autonomy, and kant's categorical imperative.
- Explains that many doctors believe that euthanasia is wrong, and that palliative care should be given when people have an incurable illness.
- Analyzes how euthanasia has a long history of philosophical discussion. ancient greek thinkers favored it, even though they opposed suicide.
- Argues that euthanasia is not a question of ending someone's life but the important question is how their life ends. pro-lifers, people who are against it, place the emphasis on killing.
- Opines that euthanasia is a controversial subject and that it should be left to the sufferer's conscience to decide whether they want to end their lives.
1577 wordsRead More - Assisted Suicide Vs Euthanasia Essayopinionated essayAssisted suicide has been one of the most controversial topics encoded in society to this day. Everyone has their own side of the story to tell their opinion. This is a socially debated topic that, when it boils down to the point, it is all just someone making a decision, whether the choice is to end one’s life and agony, or to preserve their pain. This should be a choice that the victims decide for themselves. However, in the land of the free, only one state has voted to legalizing assisted suicide. I stand by the right to choose assisted suicide. Assisted suicide and Euthanasia should be the choice of the people falling victim to such actions. This paper will be showing supporting reasons why assisted suicide should be the choice of the one that lays victim to it.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that assisted suicide and euthanasia should be the choice of the people falling victim to such actions.
- Explains that physician assisted suicide is when a doctor provides information or the means of assisting in the patient's suicide.
- Explains that involuntary euthanasia is used to explain the killing of someone who has not directly asked for help in commiting suicide. it occurs most often with patients in a deep coma of vegetative state.
- Explains that to have assisted suicide/euthanasia legalized, certain guidelines would need to be set in stone beforehand.
- Argues that physician assisted may be a possible choice for someone suffering from an incurable disease. however, there are cases where doctors can only do so much, such as assisted suicide or euthanasia.
- Argues that assisted suicide may be seen as unethical. lobbyists debate the fact that doctor's say an oath to preserve life, but leave out the part where they have a duty to act in the best interest of their patient.
- Argues that medical assisted suicide is a humane and reasonable approach to relentless pain and suffering. legalization would promote open discussion.
- Explains that there are also those who oppose physician assisted suicide. sacredness of life is an argument that points out strong religious and nonspiritual traditions against taking human life.
- Opines that if one is in pain without a cure for their ailments, they can't end their lives being assisted by doctors who can put them out of their misery.
- Opines that americans should have the right to end their lives if they are in an incurable uncomfortable situation. they are a compassionate person who believes that life is great and worth living in any circumstance.
- Opines that having a loved one pass away is hard enough to deal with, but to see them in pain while they are slowly dying is even worse.
- Opines that they care about living more than anything in the world so it is difficult for them to say just give up and die, but they never want to see a person in constant pain that is only temporarily cured by modern medicine.
- Opines that assisted suicide and euthanasia is a choice that should be up to the patient, who has the right to decide whether they live or die.
1229 wordsRead More - Assisted Suicide Ethicsopinionated essayIn recent years the media has shifted more focus on the hot topic of physician assisted suicide. This expanded coverage has caused an ever widening gap on both sides of the debate because of the ethical concerns that come along with this act. Due in part to the advancements in modern medicine, assisted suicide should be viewed as a morally correct decision for individuals to make for themselves when there is no overcoming a life impairing mental or physical ailment. This form of medicine should only be used when the individuals have exhausted all possible procedures and options and the have a bleak chance on being healthy once again. The results of assisted suicide can be viewed as morally correct in regards to consequentialism, social contract theory, as well as deontological ethics. The act of assisted suicide can be viewed as selfless if one does not ultimately want to be a physical or monetary burden on other individuals. A patient can also help to save others in regards of organ donations. We as a country need to learn to observe the choices of the terminally ill patients and understand when they want to concede in their battle. If a person chooses to end their life, it should not be viewed as a sign of weakness, but rather as a statement that this individual does not want to suffer anymore.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that assisted suicide should be viewed as a morally correct decision for individuals to make for themselves when there is no overcoming an impairing mental or physical illness.
- Opines that if we are to make physician assisted suicide legal, there needs to be a strict set of guidelines and rules so others can be at peace.
- Explains that ethics takes its name from the greek word for duty. it is a duty for us humans to make sure all our actions are to be legal and ethical.
- Opines that the terri schiavo case was the most famous case in which an individual was denied the right to have a physician assist in death.
- Explains that cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can lead to a slow and agonizing death. doctors have enough knowledge and resources at their disposal to know when patients have bleak outlooks.
- Opines that the lack of media coverage on the refusal of treatment pales in comparison to the uproar about legalization of assisted suicide.
- Argues that society has a moral duty to protect and preserve all forms of life. allowing others, whether they are doctors or not, to assist in destroying these delicate lives has been portrayed as violating human life's fundamental duty.
- Opines that it would be wise to put the needs of the living ahead of those of dying, as in the case of physician assisted suicide.
- Explains consequentialism, an ethical theory that states actions morality is based on the outcomes or consequences of the action.
1759 wordsRead More - The Right to Die in Assisted Suicideopinionated essayInitial Thoughts on Physician Assisted Suicide (February 28th, 2013) The promotion of physician assisted suicide has sparked a debate throughout the world. From my point of view, assisted suicide is doctors assist patients who could not endure the pain of diseases and are voluntarily given lethal amount of substances resulting in death. However, physician assisted suicide might be considered to be deviant in many countries currently due to the religions, laws and the negative image. Also, the physicians who assist their patients to suicide might be labelled as "killers".
In this essay, the author
- Opines that physician assisted suicide has sparked a debate throughout the world due to religions, laws, and the negative image.
- Opines that it is sad when patients who suffer from unbearable pains cannot make the final decision in their lives — to die at the appointed time.
- Opines that the government should legalize assisted death, since it is the patients' right to end their lives.
- Argues that incompetent patients repetitively request to die instead of being encouraged by physicians. failure to commit suicide could cause huge troubles for both the patient and family.
- Opines that further research and analyzation on assisted-suicide will be discussed in next two journals besides exploring more on earlier questions that they have investigated.
- Explains that the patient who requests to be assisted in suicide must be diagnosed with incurable illnesses and constantly suffering from severe pain.
- Opines that the doctor should not encourage the patient to be assisted suicide unless he/she expresses his/her own free will.
- Opines that the patient's physician and family should attend the "farewell ceremony" unless they request them not to.
- Explains that ym, a local famous theatrical performer, was diagnosed with breast cancer in january 2013. xy and her father stated that she requested assisted suicide, but was rejected.
- States that assisted suicide is legal in oregon, switzerland, belgium, albania, colombia, washington, luxembourg montana, and the netherlands, but prohibited in other countries.
- Opines that in order to lower the suicide rate in south korea, seniors who are terminally ill should be provided alternative solutions like assisted suicide.
- Explains the difference between physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia.
- Argues that assisted suicide negatively influences the medical culture, and especially, the trust between physicians and patients.
- Argues that assisted suicide should be legalized as it might be the only method to die with dignity.
- Opines that treatment withdrawal is permitted in many countries, but not assisted suicide. the distinction between suicide assistance is blurry due to the absence of clearly distinguished moral differences.
- Argues that the reduction of health care costs related to suicide assistance is unavoidable because of the great reduction in healthcare costs and public support.
- Speculates that assisted suicide would not be permitted world-wide in the near future, but eventually, it will be acknowledged by the public and legalized by governments for the following reasons: 1. the relief of patient’s suffering, 2. the right to die, 3.
- Opines that both governments and individuals should strive to minimize the risks of assisted dying.
- Opines that if assisted suicide and actual pain-free painkillers are adopted in the future, patients will appreciate that they could relieve the pain by either option.
- Opines that they have learned to think multi-dimensionally in terms of thinking and arguing from different perspectives of assisted suicide from reviewing journals. the extremely cautious and complex procedures of performing suicide assistance absolutely amazed them.
- Explains that they appreciate the assignment as an opportunity to explore more about suicide assistance due to their family and friend's experience.
- Opines that the legalization of assisted suicide is inevitable, all we need is time.
2506 wordsRead More - Analysis of Physician Assisted Suicide Debateexplanatory essayThis essay leaves no rock unturned in its analysis of the debate involving euthanasia and assisted suicide. Very thorough definitions are given for both concepts - with examples that clarify rather than obscure the reader's understanding.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that physician assisted suicide involves prescribing lethal drugs, setting up intravenous infusions, and withdrawing food and water from a patient.
- Explains that palliative care refers to the treatment of patients with terminal conditions such as cancer with a therapy that will not cure the patient but will make their life easier.
- Defines euthanasia as the intentional causing or hastening of death in someone with a medical condition that is judged to be serious.
- Explains that withdrawal of food and water is a form of euthanasia that is increasingly practiced.
- Explains the multi-society task force on pvs' medical aspects of the persistent vegetative state. andrews k, murphy l, munday r, littlewood c, childs nl, mercer wn.
2637 wordsRead More - Physician Assisted Suicideanalytical essayAssisted suicide is a very contentious topic in the world today. Everyone has their own opinion on this subject and it is a socially debated subject that involves a person making a choice, whether it is a choice to continue on with their life or give up hope and end their life. This should be a choice a person should make for themselves. While in the United States only one state has legalized assisted suicide. I agree with assisted suicide and this paper will support my feelings on this subject.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that terminally ill patients should have the right to decide when and how their life ends — being kept alive by modern technology is cruel and inhumane.
- Opines that a terminally ill patient should not feel forced to decide to perform their own suicide, which can be painful and sometimes unsuccessful.
- Explains that assisted suicide advocates address the issue as a matter of personal freedom and personal choice, but many people think of it in terms of ethics and religion.
- Explains that physician assisted suicide is a complex issue because sentiment about the practice ranges from strong support on personal freedom to religious feedback that insists that it is murder.
- Argues that medical treatment and interventions aren't enough to ensure a dignified life. with physician assisted suicide legalized, patients with terminal conditions can die with dignity and peace.
- Concludes that the debate about physician assisted suicide is complex because of the values each side being rooted in two different areas.
- Explains gupta, deepak, and the internet journal of pain, symptom control & palliative care.
- Explains that assisted suicide is a socially debated topic that involves people making choices about whether to continue on with their lives or give up hope and end their life.
- Argues that the involvement of physicians in assisting a patient suicide is cruel and inhumane because they are supposed to be dedicated in the healing of the patient.
- Opines that death with dignity or a criminal act? a review of general semantics.
2465 wordsRead More - The Pros And Cons Of Assisted Suicide And Euthanasiaanalytical essayAssisted suicide and euthanasia are phenomena developed in the past 20 years. They’re similar to each other because they both have to do with taking away another human being’s life. While assisted suicide is defined as the act of providing a drug prescription or lethal dosage to a patient by a physician and the person can decide when to take the dosage, euthanasia is the practice of killing a sick individual where a physician takes an active part on the process. PAS and euthanasia are legal in Belgium, Colombia, India, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Oregon, Washington , Montana and Vermont. For years a debate on assisted death has been going on. There are groups who believe it should not be charged as murder and there are others who believe it should. In this essay the reader will be introduced to some of the main reasons why a government pass a law to make them [PAS and euthanasia] legal.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that assisted suicide and euthanasia are similar to each other because they both have to do with taking away another human being’s life.
- Argues that assisted death should not be legalized because it is very similar to homicide. the kenneth minor case is one of the most popular cases in which the difficulty to distinguish between a murder and assisted suicide has grabbed the public’s attention.
- Explains that pas and euthanasia are two experiences which threaten the doctor-patient relationship. according to hippocratic oath, doctors are not allowed to give deadly medicine.
- Explains that many hospitals, social insurance companies, and families find euthanasia helpful.
- Argues that legalizing pas and euthanasia is a delicate step because patients are not in the right conditions to make such decisions.
966 wordsRead More - The Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicideanalytical essayDeath remains as one of the greatest mysteries today. Even though dying is a natural part of existence, American culture is unique in the extent to which death is viewed as a taboo topic. Rather than having open discussions, we tend to view death as a feared enemy that can and should be defeated by modern medicine and machines. Many people fear their end of life care, dying, and what will come after death. Society has become institutionalized, therefore most people die in a place with many health professionals. One main controversy over the last few decades are whether or not people should be able to choose when they die with assistance from a physician. Physician assisted suicide is the voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. Physician-assisted suicide is the practice of providing a competent patient with a prescription for medication for the patient to use with the primary intention of ending his or her own life. There are some people that are strong advocates and others that do not agree at all.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that american culture views death as a feared enemy that can and should be defeated by modern medicine and machines.
- Explains that the 1906 debate regarding whether or not to legalize physician assisted suicide (pas) in iowa and ohio was the first significant effort to make it legal.
- Explains that in states where physician assisted suicide is legal, the terminally ill person must follow many requirements. they have to be older than 18 and a resident of that state.
- Explains the benefits of physician assisted suicide, stating that people suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities who potentially cause pain will end if they choose this process.
- Describes dr. jack kevorkian as a strong advocate for physician assisted suicide. he suggested that death row inmates be euthanized, and that their bodily organs be harvested for those who need them.
- Argues that physician assisted suicide violates the hippocratic oath, which says to treat the ill to the best of one's ability, to preserve a patient’s privacy, and to teach the secrets of medicine.
- Opines that the ending of one's life should be left in the hands of that one individual and nobody else.
960 wordsRead More - The Right to Physician Assisted Suicideanalytical essayThe right to assisted suicide is a significant topic that concerns people all over the United States. The debates go back and forth about whether a dying patient has the right to die with the assistance of a physician. Some are against it because of religious and moral reasons. Others are for it because of their compassion and respect for the dying. Physicians are also divided on the issue. They differ where they place the line that separates relief from dying--and killing. For many the main concern with assisted suicide lies with the competence of the terminally ill. Many terminally ill patients who are in the final stages of their lives have requested doctors to aid them in exercising active euthanasia. It is sad to realize that these people are in great agony and that to them the only hope of bringing that agony to a halt is through assisted suicide.When people see the word euthanasia, they see the meaning of the word in two different lights. Euthanasia for some carries a negative connotation; it is the same as murder. For others, however, euthanasia is the act of putting someone to death painlessly, or allowing a person suffering from an incurable and painful disease or condition to die by withholding extreme medical measures. But after studying both sides of the issue, a compassionate individual must conclude that competent terminal patients should be given the right to assisted suicide in order to end their suffering, reduce the damaging financial effects of hospital care on their families, and preserve the individual right of people to determine their own fate.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the right to assisted suicide is a significant topic that concerns people all over the united states.
- Opines that medical technology is science's greatest gift to mankind, but for the terminally ill, it is just a means of prolonging suffering.
- Explains that medical technology has failed to save a loved-one, but the cost is sometimes too much for the terminally ill's family.
- Opines that terminally ill patients should be allowed to die with dignity. choosing the right to assisted suicide would be a final exercise of autonomy for the dying.
- Argues that the hippocratic oath cannot be used to deny the right to assisted suicide.
- Argues that the doctor-patient relationship would encourage distrust if assisted suicide was legalized.
- Explains that stephen reinhardt's ruling is the strongest defense for the right to assisted suicide.
- Opines that the right to assisted suicide must be freely bestowed upon terminally ill people. this would allow them to leave with dignity, save their families from financial ruin, and relieve them of insufferable pain.
- Explains cotton, paul, "medicine's position is both pivotal and precarious in assisted suicide debate." the journal of the american association.
- Analyzes smith, cheryl, "should active euthanasia be legalized: yes." american bar association journal april 1993.
1874 wordsRead More - Ethical Issues Of Euthanasiaanalytical essayAny discussion that pertains to the topic of euthanasia must first include a clear definition of the key terms and issues. With this in mind, it should be noted that euthanasia includes both what has been called physician-assisted "suicide" and voluntary active euthanasia. Physician-assisted suicide involves providing lethal medication(s) available to the patient to be used at a time of the patient’s own choosing (Boudreau, p.2, 2014). Indifferently, voluntary active euthanasia involves the physician taking an active role in carrying out the patient’s request, and usually involves intravenous delivery of a lethal substance. Physician-assisted suicide is felt to be easier psychologically for the physician and patient than euthanasia because
In this essay, the author
- Argues that euthanasia should be legalized because the act itself is voluntary and no one should deny entitlement.
- Argues that euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is illegal and does not have federal approval. the law prohibits adults who are terminally-ill or chronically diseased to end their life with access to a lethal dose of medication.
- Explains that belgium has shown positive results after the legalization of euthanasia.
- Opines that psychologists should be included in the euthanizing process because of the profession's integrity and the credibility of doctors.
- Explains that euthanasia includes both physician-assisted suicide and voluntary active suicide. the world of medicine can be described as god's gift, but it can also make room for medical, legal and ethical dilemmas.
- Explains that psychologists study the patient's behavior and how it relates to the illness before the procedure. they conclude that euthanasia allows one to fill voids that normal patients do not get to take advantage of.
1581 wordsRead More