Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Applying ethics chapter one
Applying ethics chapter 1
The history of euthanasia
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Applying ethics chapter one
With the growing media attention, Euthanasia has become a huge controversy that is split down the middle. The subject of euthanasia goes back several hundred years but has received much attention in the past century and is still a huge issue. Let’s take a look at what exactly euthanasia is, the history, my views on the subject, and society’s arguments for and against it. According to euthanasia.com, euthanasia is “the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit”. There are four different types of euthanasia and two different ways in which it can be carried out. The different types are: voluntary euthanasia (request to be killed), non-voluntary euthanasia (no request or consent), involuntary euthanasia (expressed wish), and assisted suicide (someone helps carry out the suicide). If it is the doctor who helps, then it is known as physician assisted suicide. The two different ways to perform euthanasia are: euthanasia by action (“performing an action” i.e. lethal injection) and euthanasia by omission (withholding care or food) (Euthanasia). In 1920, Alfred Hoche, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at the University of Freiburg, and Karl Binding, a professor of law at the University of Leipzig, wrote a book called Permitting the Destruction of Life not Worthy of Life. This book said that “under certain circumstances” if a patient requested, a doctor could help them in carrying out their wishes (Euthanasia). Euthanasia had been an issue in many countries, even becoming legal in the Netherlands in 2000 and in Belgium in 2002, but this has really become a topic of discussion in the United States back in the late 1990s, when Oregon legalized assisted suicides in 1998 and then ten years ... ... middle of paper ... ... offer. There are people who are sympathetic and understand that it is a difficult decision, as well as, an issue that should not be taken lightly or decided upon right there on the spot, if it was not discussed amongst everyone involved beforehand. Works Cited Euthanasia Suicide Mercy-killing Right-to-die Physician Assisted Suicide Living Wills Research. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Evans, Hilary. "Pitfalls of Physician-assisted Suicide." Physicians News. Sept. 1997. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . MS, Afiff. Pro Euthanasia Arguments - 2010 Edition. 1st ed. Afiff MS, 2010. Kindle. "Top 10 Pros and Cons - Euthanasia - ProCon.org." Euthanasia ProCon.org -- Should Euthanasia Be Legal? 28 May 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .
Any 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
Sloss, David. "The Right to Choose How to Die: A Constitutional Analysis of State Laws Prohibiting Physician-Assisted Suicide." Stanford Law Review. 48.4 (1996): 937-973. Web. 2 March 2015.
The word Euthanasia comes from the Greek and means “good death” (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp) and in the range of this paper, it is called physician assisted suicide or “active” euthanasia. The definition of “active” euthanasia is ending one’s life yourself or with the aid of a doctor. It can be done in various different ways; however, the most common form is with a combination of drugs, usually given by a physician. ( http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp) The reason Physician Assisted Suicide (or PAS) is an important issue in this country and around the world is that there are many people out there suffering from debilitating, incurable and intensely painful diseases that would like to end their lives with dignity and without suffering.
Bernards, Neal, Ed. (1989). Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints Series, Series Eds. David L. Bender and Bruno Leone. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.
Velasquez, Manuel, Andre, Claire “Assisted Suicide A Right or Wrong.” Santa Clara university n.d. web 24 March 2012
Marker and Hamlon. “Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Frequently Asked Questions.” International Task Force. 2009. .
Legalize physician assisted suicide - Those that believe that physician assisted suicide should be legal primarily argue on the basis of patient autonomy and family considerations. The first argument, patient autonomy, states that terminally ill patients should have the right to control the circumstances of their death and to determine when t...
Markoff, Steven. “State by-State Guide to Physician Assisted Suicide” ProCon.org. 13 December 2013, 30 March 2014.
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. It 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 (“Physician-assisted Suicide”). Physician- assisted suicide is a dilemma that has been debated in the United States. While there are many reasons to consider it right, there are also many reasons to consider it wrong. Currently, states of Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have legalized assisted suicide through the legislature. While individuals have the right to choose whether he or she lives or dies, is physician- assisted suicide right or wrong? This paper supports that physician- assisted suicide is wrong. This paper will feature a case study on physician- assisted suicide. It will argue that physician- assisted suicide is unlawful, unethical, and is dishonoring.
ProCon. "Historical Timeline." Euthanasia - ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 28 Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .
"Assisted Suicide: Finding Common Ground." Lois Snyder, JD; and Authur L. Caplan, PhD. Annals of Internal Medicine. March 21, 2000. v.132, n.6
ProCon (December, 13, 2013). Euthanasia. Retrieved from http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000126 “This was a fantastic source to reference throughout this essay, it covers boths sides of this controversial issue without bias. It also covers the history of the subjects, which helped with building a timeline”
In this essay, I will discuss whether euthanasia is morally permissible or not. Euthanasia is the intention of ending life due to inevitable pain and suffering. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words “eu,” which means good, and “thanatosis, which means death. There are two types of euthanasia, active and passive. Active euthanasia is when medical professionals deliberately do something that causes the patient to die, such as giving lethal injections. Passive euthanasia is when a patient dies because the medical professionals do not do anything to keep them alive or they stop doing something that was keeping them alive. Some pros of euthanasia is the freedom to decide your destiny, ending the pain, and to die with dignity. Some cons
Smith, Cheryl. "Should Active Euthanasia Be Legalized: Yes." American Bar Association Journal April 1993. Rpt. in CQ Researcher 5.1 (1995): 409.
More than likely, a good majority of people have heard about euthanasia at least once in their lifetime. For those out there who have been living under a rock their entire lives, euthanasia “is generally understood to mean the bringing about of a good death – ‘mercy killing’, where one person, ‘A’, ends the life of another person, ‘B’, for the sake of ‘B’.” (Kuhse 294). There are people who believe this is a completely logical scenario that should be allowed, and there are others that oppose this view. For the purpose of this essay, I will be defending those who are suffering from euthanasia.