Euthanasia Essay - Mercy Killing Not Necessary

605 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethics surrounding euthanasia

Euthanasia Essay - Mercy Killing Not Necessary

"Mercy Killing" as Euthanasia is also known, has been outlawed within the United States. The definition of mercy killing is where someone is terminally ill with a disease, and an accomplice helps to end the misery of that victim's life. In my opinion, this decision should be a live and let live decision. If and only if the victim agrees ahead of time before the pain starts to end it, then they should live their life the way they want to; if that includes ending it the way they want to, so be it. Atop this highly controversial topic are many illnesses which have led to the popularity of Euthanasia. Among those are Cancer, Aids, and Alzheimer's. There is a very slim need for the use of Euthanasia today in my opinion.

Supporters to full-fledged euthanasia often point out that they are carrying out the last wishes of the damned. One doctor has said that "Our ability to end pain is more powerful than at any time in the history of human experience" (Hanson). The key word of Euthanasia is "intentional," if death is not intended it is not an act of Euthanasia. The debate rages today about this very controversial idea. Doctors' code of ethics will not allow this practice in general, yet it still remains such a hot topic which no doctor is able to set this conflict aside.

By withdrawing treatment that would not provide a benefit to the patient, or withdrawing treatment that has shown to be ineffective, too burdensome, or is unwanted, and giving the high doses of pain killers, that may endanger life when they have shown to be necessary are all part of good medical practice, but only when they are properly carried out. The concept of human rights were derived from considerations of the nature of mankind, originated when a political context. "Natural Rights," as they are called, were developed as a proclamation of liberty to be used to guarantee freedom from attack on one's life, dignity, or property. There were considered to apply equally to each individual, or to equivalent groups, there were unconditional and imposed on others a duty to respect them. These "natural rights" were also joined by welfare rights, even though grounded in nature and reason, these are not universally applicable and many would be thought absurd or unattainable in many cultures.

Show More
Related

  • Female Genital Circumcision Essay

    2844 Words  | 6 Pages

    Female genital cutting is often termed as female genital circumcision or female genital mutilation. This includes partial or complete removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons (WHO). Woman who undergo this procedure generally range from the ages five to fifteen years old. This process is known to have no actual health benefits however; it is practiced la...

    Read More

  • FGM: Female Genital Mutilation Must be Outlawed Worldwide

    1457 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...problem is viewed by the public. According to the Womankind Worldwide organization, in order to achieve the abolition of FGM two things must happen: “FGM needs to be firmly [placed] on national governments’ agendas and there must be clear laws specifically criminalizing FGM” (Womankind Worldwide 32). Until those two things happen, Female Genital Mutilation will continue to be a worldwide concern. Developed nations must help the countries “lagging behind” to smooth the progress of eradicating FGM (Skaine 79). The frequency of genital cutting in individual countries makes the practice seem irrelevant in many parts of the world; however the practice is a worldwide human rights concern. A person’s body should not be deformed, unless for hygienic or medical reasons, without the individual’s permission therefore any form of Female Genital Mutilation should not take place.

    Read More

  • Essay On Male And Female Circumcision

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    A hot button issue in our society over the years has been the topic of male and female circumcision. This issue has been portrayed in both ethical and political paradigms. “It is estimated that about 30% of males are circumcised worldwide for religious, cultural, and health reasons, most of whom live in major parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, West Africa and Israel, as well as in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand,” according to Demuth (1). Male circumcision is the medical process of the removal of the foreskin that covers the head of the penis. In continuation, the article “Prevalence of Female Genital Cutting among Egyptian Girls,” estimates that between “100 and 130 million girls and women now alive in at least 28 African countries and the Middle East have been subjected to female circumcision or female genital mutilation (FGM)” stated by Tag-Eldin (3). The female genital mutilation is a bit different than a male’s circumcision, generally consisting of three types. “Type 1 is the removal of the clitoris, Type 2 is the removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, and Type 3 is the removal of all parts of the external genitalia, which includes: the clitoris, the labia minora/majora, and then sewing the rest of the tissues,” according to Pauls (4). The origin of circumcision is currently unknown, but according to the article “Circumcision”, there is a theory that in Ancient Egypt, Egyptians men were circumcised and eliminated all of their body hair for probably hygienic reasons. In addition, in the “Book of the Dead” it describes the sun god, Ra, to have circumcised himself (40). This suggests that it may have also been for religious reasons.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Physician Assisted Suicide

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Michael Manning, MD, in his 1998 book Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Killing or Caring?, traced the history of the word euthanasia: ‘The term euthanasia.originally meant only 'good death,'but in modern society it has come to mean a death free of any anxiety and pain, often brought about through the use of medication.” It seems there has always been some confusion and questions from our society about the legal and moral questions regarding the new science of euthanasia. “Most recently, it has come to mean'mercy killing' — deliberately putting an end to someone’s life in order to spare the individual’s suffering.’” I would like to emphasize the words “to spare the individual’s suffering”.

    Read More

  • Cultural History Of Circumcision

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unlike male circumcisions which were practice for religious purposes, female circumcision is done for social convention and is practiced as a way to prepare girls for marriage, as well as conform to societal norms of femininity. Female circumcisions are often motivated by what would be considered proper female behavior and as a way to promote virginity as well as cause pain during intercourse to uphold these beliefs. Much like male circumcision these societal beliefs about sex and purity, have affected these cultures in their convictions that circumcision must be performed to be pure and free of

    Read More

  • castration

    1187 Words  | 3 Pages

    Okay suppose your five-year-old daughter was brutally attacked and raped by a known sex offender, would you rather the offender to be sentenced to a few years in prison, only to get out and destroy another innocent victim’s life or have them chemically castrated? Chemical castration is the process of injecting male sex offenders’ female hormones to eliminate their sex drive. Honestly until someone is in the position; how can they say that it should or should not be performed on these offenders.

    Read More

  • The Right to Physician Assisted Suicide

    1874 Words  | 4 Pages

    The 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.

    Read More

  • Female Circumcision Essay

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    Woman who live in the United States are not typically circumcised, however some woman live out if the social normality in the United States and have for reasons such as religion been circumcised. Woman all over the United States are affected by the practice of female circumcision even though it is illegal; being circumcised is illegal because there are no medical benefits as a woman. In many cases children of immigrant parents will come to the United States circumcised, this can be difficult for children developing in an environment in which female circumcision is not practiced or widely accepted. The effects of female circumcision and it’s physical, psychological and social effects on women who live in the United States can be impactful to

    Read More

  • The Views of Female Circumcision

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bacquet-Walsh, Caroline, Sandra Jordan, and Francesca Moneti. "Female Genital Cutting Fact Sheet." womenshealth.gov. Womenshealth.gov, 15 Dec. 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Portrayal of Characters in Shakespeare's 'King Lear'

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Fool is a character in the play who is the embodiment of Lear’s conscience and through him, the audience is able to witness the folly of the King. His name bears quite a significant irony as throughout the play it is made apparent that it is the Fool who is the wiser. He states that, “this fellow banished two on’s daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will” (1,4,101-103) The Fool lays bare the folly Lear in not recognising the worth of a true daughter yet through his foolish act, he has done Cordelia good. In a way this irony of the Fool foreshows the future judgement of this judgemental monarch. In the play it is Cordelia who is banished and the other two who have blessings poured on them, but the Fool provides the audience with a different perspective on this matter; one, which is increasingly unapparent to the ailing King who is quick to continue his living in denial, stating that, “[All] This is nothing, Fool” (1,4 127) Shakespeare’s placement of the Fools as Lear’s conscience allows the audience to feel the emotions which the king should be experiencing. In the event of Cordelia’s banishing “the Fool hath much pinned away” (1,4,71-72) Shakespeare shows the Fool’s sadness to contrast with the apparent lack of some in the King. This also evokes audience empathy. Through the Fool Shakespeare is able to convey to the reader the apparent folly of a vain King and the enormity of his folly.

    Read More

  • Warrior Marks

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, is a practice that involves the removal of part or all of the female external genitalia. It occurs throughout the world, but most commonly in Africa where they say that it is a tradition and social custom to keep a young girl pure and a married woman faithful. But to some Westerners, the practice is viewed as being primitive and barbaric. We react with disgust and find it nearly incomprehensible that female genital mutilation can occur in the world today

    Read More

  • Female Genital Mutilation Research Paper

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    Female genital mutilation, or also referred to as the female circumcision, is a horrible act of violence on young girls between the ages of infant to fifteen years young. Each of the four types of circumcision includes some type of cutting to the outer female genital area. For what reason though? People from all over the world need to not only know the difference between the four different types of circumcision, but also need to know why people perform this task and the harmful scenarios that come from each of circumcision. However, some may already know about these many different aspects of mutilation on women. There are not as many as Seyta, whom Stephanie got to work with, that are educated

    Read More

  • Essay On Circumcision

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    The exact origin of circumcision remains largely unclear. The earliest record of circumcision, however it is unclear of whether is originated here, comes from Egypt in the form of a carved image on a tomb depicting the circumcision of an adult (1). Historically it is also known that circumcision has been practiced ritualistically in West Africa and in the Middle East for 5000 and 300 years respectively but it is unclear weather is was adopted from the Egyptians or adapted on their own. (2) Circumcision also became a very important ritual to the Jewish and Muslim shortly after it was first practiced however this exact time is unclear (4). It was only until the late nineteenth century where circumcision was first practiced as a medically sanctioned procedure in Bri...

    Read More

  • Wisdom and Foolishness in Shakespeare's King Lear

    680 Words  | 2 Pages

    Therefore, if the sane characters commit foolish actions, obeying the same paradox, the implications are that Tom o’Bedlam and the fool have to be wise. The role of the fool in the play is to remind Lear of his foolish behaviour in giving everything to his two daughters and in banishing Cordelia. The audience can get much insight in the words of the fool. This was not new to the Elizabethan audience as it was a theatrical convention that the fool would speak the truth. Likewise is poor Tom o’Bedlam (Edgar in disguise). In him Lear finds reason and calls him philosopher.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Mercy Killing

    1643 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mercy killings, or euthanasia, is perfectly alright when done under regulation. They have occurred, legally or illegally, no matter what time period it was in history. Many have occurred out of hate, such as those conducted by Hitler. Others have been done to ease the patient's way into the afterlife, such as Dr. Kevorkian. We end the suffering of our beloved pets, who's lives are just as precious as ours. Under strict medical and legal regulations they can be beneficial to humanity and the patients life. They are an easy way out of pain, a is a favorable choice at times

    Read More

More about Euthanasia Essay - Mercy Killing Not Necessary

Open Document