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Euthanasia Should Be Legal and Inexpensive

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The word euthanasia literally means “good death” (General History), and as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, “the means of bringing about a gentle and easy death.” Euthanasia has been mostly forbidden throughout history; however, the actions of easy death have been applied since ancient ages for people who have been suffering from terminal illnesses (General History). It’s not consistent to tell people they have a right to live their life while denying them the means, manner, or information necessary for them to give away this life (Should). Humans have a constitutional right to live; therefore, humans should have a right to die, so Americans should become involved in a movement towards legalizing euthanasia. In 1994, Oregon was the first state to grant the ability to a terminally ill patient to get a physician’s prescription to end their life in a humane and dignified manner (Timeline). Since then, Washington, Montana and Vermont have also legalized euthanasia (Timeline). It’s not just the U.S. that has begun legalizing; many European countries have either legalized it, or are moving to legalize it. Albania, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Columbia have all legalized euthanasia or physician assisted death (P.A.D.) in the past ten years (General History). The difference between euthanasia and P.A.D. is with euthanasia, the patient themself is the one who controls the lethal dose of drug injected. Physician assisted death is the doctor directly dosing the patient with medicine from outside the patient’s control. When Hitler used euthanasia in World War II, he ordered people be killed who were mentally or physically handicapped, or if they were “useless and unrehabilitive” (General History). That may be why one w... ... middle of paper ... ...patient’s life is worth living (Should). Death is our ultimate civil liberty; if we are not allowed to even decide when we get to die, what liberties do we really have? (Humphry). Works Cited "A General History of Euthanasia." Life.org.nz. The Life Resources Charitable Trust, 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. "Arguments For and Against Euthanasia." Care.org.uk. Care, 2010. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. "Campaign for Dignity In Dying." Dignityindying.org.uk. Dignity and Choice in Dying, n.d Web. 28 Jan. 2014. Humphry, Derek, and Richard Gula. "Legalizing Euthanasia: Medical Perspectives on Death and Dying." SCU.edu. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. "Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?" Euthanasia.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. "Timeline." Compassionandchoices.org. Compassion & Choices, 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
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