Euthanasia Persuasive Essay

Euthanasia, otherwise known as mercy killing or good death, is used to help end the suffering of a patient in an irreversible state of health, like severe cases of Lou Gehrig’s disease or severe burn victims. Many believe that it is immoral to go against natural survival instincts, while others wish to legalize it to help end the pain of those suffering. The main argument over euthanasia is whether or not it should even be allowed to exist within the medical and legal worlds. Euthanasia has caused many controversies and lawsuits that will continue until euthanasia is fully denied or accepted by society.
Euthanasia was first recorded in Greek and Roman times.The word euthanasia originates from the two Greek words “eu”, meaning good, or easy
The machine was called the “Mercitron”, the machine was created from spare toy gears that he bought in multiple flea markets he attended, and had large doses of deadly medicines. The machine itself worked by allowing the patient to flip a switch when they are ready or willing to end their own lives, and caused themselves to overdose on whatever drug was used. Eventually Jack Kevorkian was put on trial for the murder of his patients but was never found guilty, although he was stripped of his license to be a physician. He still carried out his practice by using gases like monoxide, carbon dioxide, et cetera. Jack Kevorkian was also involved in many legal cases, including the People of Michigan versus Kevorkian case.
The People versus Kevorkian case based around a physician- assisted suicide case, committed by Jack Kevorkian, being charged as second degree murder. The case revolved round the assisted suicide of fifty- two year old Thomas Youk. Thomas Youk had a severe case of Lou Gehrig’s disease, and could barely move himself, and was losing his physical abilities. Thomas had asked Jack Kevorkian to assist him, in which Jack Kevorkian obliged. Jack Kevorkian was eventually seen as not guilty and was not charged with his accusations and was set
Some include the banning of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Then there are some that support it, or just regulate, and restrict it. The United States of America holds many laws and ideals surrounding euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. This can go between making it illegal to even supporting the cause.
Within the United States only four states allow euthanasia. These states include Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, all other forty- six states find it to be a criminal act, or to not be fully legal in their state. Some states like Hawaii and Delaware even classify it as manslaughter, while others only only charge it as felonies. Then there are the few states that do not recognize any laws preventing or allowing euthanasia within the state. Such states include Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.(ProcCon.org)
The four states supporting euthanasia have laws protecting their right to have a say over their lives and whether or not they would want physician- assisted suicide, called Death with Dignity Acts. Act 39 of Vermont is one such Death with Dignity Act, and allows physicians to prescribe lethal medicines to help along the process of euthanasia, without being penalized by the law. Then there is Oregon, which has a similar act to Vermont’s act. Yet it requires the person to be an Oregon citizen.