The Pros And Cons Of Euthanasia

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Euthanasia is medically defined as the practice of ending a life with a lethal dose of prescription drugs to relieve excruciating pain or an incurable illness such as an irreversible coma; the word euthanasia in Greek means “good death” or “easy death.” The practice of euthanasia is only legal in the nine following countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Albania, and the United States; however, euthanasia in the United States is only legal in Oregon, Washington, Vermont, New Mexico, and Montana. Euthanasia is said to be illegal in most countries because the practice is thought to be unethical or goes against religious views. Euthanasia is broken down into categories such as voluntary, non-voluntary, …show more content…

Murder is legally defined as the killing of a human being by a sane person with prior intention to kill the victim with no legal excuse or authority. By the definition of murder, euthanasia should not be punishable as murder because the patient directly gives an authorized physician consent to end their life. Another argument against euthanasia is the practice violates the Hippocratic Oath a doctor swears by before beginning his or her medical practice. Arguers say euthanasia violates the line of the oath which reads, “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect,” but that line comes from the original Hippocratic Oath that is roughly 2000 years old and has since been amended throughout the years to fit modern society. Euthanasia is known as a mercy killing because it ends the unbearable pain and suffering of patients. Jonathan Swift suffered a stroke and its symptoms for eight years. The pain he endured was so excruciating that Swift was restrained from gouging his own eyes out; doctors had to make sure knives were kept from him to make sure Swift didn’t kill himself. In Swift’s last few years, he could do nothing but lay in bed and drool; Swift endured 36 hours of convulsions before he finally passed away. In Swift’s brutal death, euthanasia would have been the best choice to die with dignity and no …show more content…

A patient could have palliative treatments, but that does not mean he or she is not in constant pain. Approximately 44 million Americans in the United States do not have health insurance, meaning they must pay out of pocket or cannot receive the medical help they need. If one of those Americans with no medical insurance were faced with a terminal illness, they would most likely choose the cheaper route so they could keep the financial load on their family to a minimum. Ancient Greeks and Romans debated the morality of euthanasia for years and thus is still highly debated today. Euthanasia is a choice people who are immensely suffering should be able to have whether it is morally right or not. Euthanasia is a topic that is nowhere near black and white; if one has some control over their life, they should have some control over their death

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