The word “Euthanasia” originates from the Greek language and translated it means good “death”. Today, it is the act of ending another person’s life at their request, to minimize their suffering. There is much debate on whether this practice should be legal and the moral implications behind this choice. If you have the right to live, should you also have the right to choose how you die? Support for euthanasia has been dated back to the Ancient Greek and Roman cultures in 16th century. Today, only 42 percent of Americans support euthanasia and 22 percent are unsure (Ertelt, 2010). Back in the 1970’s, a movement known as the “Right to Die” Movement began to move towards legalizing euthanasia (Yount, 12). Currently legal assisted suicide is only allowed in four states across the United States and is against the law otherwise. Legal physician-assisted suicide, or euthanasia, should be a right for terminally ill patients as it provides the freedom of choice, is a humane way to allow the terminally ill to die without immense pain and suffering, and will lessen the financial burden for families and the healthcare system.
Supporters of the “Right to Die” movement believe patients should have the freedom of choice to decide their course of treatment and the ability to choose when to end their life. For terminally ill patients, where death is inevitable and would be less painful than living, euthanasia should be an available treatment option. Patients facing a long battle with a terminal illness should be allowed the choice to end their life if they wish. Many supporters of euthanasia contest that patients have a legal right to die. Since a patient can refuse medical treatment that could result in their death why then can they not choose to...
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Hartocollis, A. (2009, December 26). Months to Live - Hard Choice for a Comfortable Death - Sedation - Series - NYTimes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/health/27sedation.html?pagewanted=all
New York State Department of Health (1994). Chapter 6 - Crafting Public Policy on Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia. Retrieved from http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/task_force/reports_publications/when_death_is_sought/chap6.htm
Pasternak, S. (2013, June 3). The Third Rail of U.S. Health Care Policy: | Medicare News Group. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from http://www.medicarenewsgroup.com/context/understanding-medicare-blog/understanding-medicare-blog/2013/06/03/end-of-life-care-constitutes-third-rail-of-u.s.-health-care-policy-debate
Yount, L. (2000). Physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. New York: Facts On File.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that legal assisted suicide is against the law in the state of new york. legalized euthanasia would lower the cost of end-of-life care.
- Argues that euthanasia is a right for terminally ill patients as it provides the freedom of choice to decide their course of treatment and the ability to choose when to end their life.
- Argues that legalizing assisted suicide would lead to legalized murder and abuse of the system.
- Cites ertelt, s., hartocollis, a. and pasternak. the third rail of u.s. health care policy.
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- The Right to Physician Assisted Suicideanalytical essayThe 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the right to assisted suicide is a significant topic that concerns people all over the united states.
- Opines that medical technology is science's greatest gift to mankind, but for the terminally ill, it is just a means of prolonging suffering.
- Explains that medical technology has failed to save a loved-one, but the cost is sometimes too much for the terminally ill's family.
- Opines that terminally ill patients should be allowed to die with dignity. choosing the right to assisted suicide would be a final exercise of autonomy for the dying.
- Argues that the hippocratic oath cannot be used to deny the right to assisted suicide.
- Argues that the doctor-patient relationship would encourage distrust if assisted suicide was legalized.
- Explains that stephen reinhardt's ruling is the strongest defense for the right to assisted suicide.
- Opines that the right to assisted suicide must be freely bestowed upon terminally ill people. this would allow them to leave with dignity, save their families from financial ruin, and relieve them of insufferable pain.
- Explains cotton, paul, "medicine's position is both pivotal and precarious in assisted suicide debate." the journal of the american association.
- Analyzes smith, cheryl, "should active euthanasia be legalized: yes." american bar association journal april 1993.
1874 wordsRead More - Argument Analysis: Euthanasia and the Right to Dieanalytical essayThe right to die and euthanasia, also known as physician-assisted suicide, have long been topics of passionate debate. Euthanasia is simply mercy killing while the phrase “physician-assisted suicide” regards the administering or the provision of lethal means to aid in the ending of a person’s life. The right to die entails the belief that if humans have the governmental and natural right to live and to prolong their lives then they should also have the right to end their life whenever desired. Articles such as Gary Cartwright’s “Last Rights” and Margaret Somerville’s “The Role of Death” provide the life support for these two topics will likely never fade away. Both articles cover physician-assisted suicide and the right to die. Cartwright’s article is much more personal and easier for readers to relate to while Somerville’s article is very aggressive and tries to persuade the reader with exhaustive vocabulary and unproven facts and statistics.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the right to die and physician-assisted suicide have long been topics of passionate debate. gary cartwright's "last rights" and margaret somerville' "the role of death" provide the life support for these two topics.
- Analyzes somerville's article on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in canada to reinforce people who are against it, and to inform those that are stuck in the middle.
- Analyzes how somerville's article proves the slippery slope theory, which is the idea that if physician-assisted suicide is allowed only for certain extreme cases, it will grow out of control.
- Analyzes how gary cartwright's article, "last rights," was written in response to his home state, texas, being overwhelmed by euthanasia opponents.
- Opines that gary cartwright's "last rights" is a better article than "the role of death" by margaret somerville.
1034 wordsRead More - The Pros And Cons Of The Right To Dieopinionated essayCurrently, in the United States, 12% of states including Vermont, Oregon, and California have legalized the Right to Die. This ongoing debate whether or not to assist in death with patients who have terminal illness has been and is still far from over. Before continuing, the definition of Right to Die is, “an individual who has been certified by a physician as having an illness or physical condition which can be reasonably be expected to result in death in 24 months or less after the date of the certification” (Terminally Ill Law & Legal Definition 1). With this definition, the Right to die ought to be available to any person that is determined terminally ill by a professional, upon this; with the request of Right to Die, euthanasia must be
In this essay, the author
- States that 12% of states including vermont, oregon, and california have legalized the right to die. the debate over whether or not to assist in death with patients with terminal illness is still ongoing.
- Explains that in 1957, the world was in a dark place, with death everywhere americans felt threatened by constant thoughts of bombs dropping and invasion.
- Explains that the debate continues in the united states today, with california having a vote whether or not to implement the right to die.
- Narrates the case of karen ann quinlan, who slipped into a death-threatening coma after consuming too much alcohol and overdosing on drugs.
- Opines that the right to die should be implemented so americans don't have to live through the pain and length of charles' life.
- Explains that the first country to legalize the right to die was sweden in 1940.
- Explains that the dutch supreme court legalized voluntary euthanasia for the second time ever in world history, but not until 2000 did parliament completely legalize and support the right to die act.
- Opines that canada will become the sixth country/nation to legalize the right to die in 2016. the debate was slowed by a one-year delay due to invalid decision just by the court rulings.
- Opines that the movement of countries has convinced many people to stand with the right to die, but the medical view still needs to be taken in consideration.
- Analyzes how ezekiel emanuel's article in the atlantic discusses newborns' lives, stating that euthanasia is not coincidental with the right to die, but a "mercy killing."
- Analyzes how elaine landau's the right to die explains that minors have a voice, and it needs to be understood.
- Opines that euthanasia will drift away from terminally ill patients and there are other options besides the right to die.
- Explains that people preferred withdrawal and pain medicines more than the right to die until oregon legalized the act. taking pain medications only suppresses the pain, while pain killers suppress the mind.
- Argues that the right to die should be implemented in the united states so that terminally ill patients can have euthanasia administered upon request.
2383 wordsRead More - Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay - I Want to Dieanalytical essayDeath and dying are a natural part of our lives. Not a day goes by that we do not take the chance of being run over by a car while running, being stabbed in a robbery, or being poisoned by bacteria in our food. In all of these cases, we have very little choice in deciding our fate. But what about those cases when we can do something to affect the dying process? What if we can decide whether we wish to live or die? For most of us, that is still uncharted territory, and just the thought of it chills us to the bone. Euthanasia is one such opportunity where a person can affect the dying process. It is not, as many people believe, a case of a physician killing a patient, but instead, a case where a patient who is facing a prolonged, painful, and, finally, terminal illness can make a conscious and reasoned choice to end his or her suffering early and in a dignified manner. It is the purpose of this paper to prove to you that euthanasia in the form of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) should be legalized. That a person facing a terminal illness should have the opportunity, and the right, to choose to die in a dignified manner when faced with a prolonged and terminal illness. That a physician should not be restrained in committing an act which might be in the best interest of a patient. And that if legalized, it would be possible to protect the patient's interests through regulation, and in effect, make euthanasia a perfectly safe choice for a patient.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that euthanasia in the form of physician-assisted suicide (pas) should be legalized.
- Explains the difference between what nazi germany considered euthanasia and what proponents today consider.
- Explains that euthanasia has become an established alternative to prolonged and useless health care procedures in the netherlands.
- Describes the countries where euthanasia is legal, including the netherlands, australia, and the united states.
- Explains that the pro-euthanasia argument revolves around the belief that a patient should have the right to choose his or her end.
- Argues that a physician's job is to assist and take care of the patient. by making physicians' actions criminal in nature, they are inhibiting them from completing their job.
- Opines that euthanasia should be a safe choice for patients because of the fear of being exploited by third parties for gain.
- Explains that the model act requires counseling sessions with the patient during which all other possible options, such as drugs, hospice care, or experimental treatments, are explored.
- Argues that euthanasia might not be in society's best interests if it is implemented without legal representation.
- Explains alcorn, gay, "first assisted suicide under euthanasia law." sydney morning herald, 26 sep. 1996.
- Argues that euthanasia is contrary to a physician's goal of looking out for the well-being of the patient.
- Explains hoefler, james m., misbin, robert i. and kamoie. deathright: culture, medicine, politics, and their right to die.
2302 wordsRead More - The Euthanasia Debateanalytical essayThere are many different point of views on Euthanasia and whether or not it should be legalized. Many believe that since it is our bodies and our lives, we have the right to choose when we no longer want to live. On the other hand, there are great amounts of people who believe that euthanasia is considered murder and is not ethical. “One thing on which we all agree is that there is a true national crisis that surrounds the way Americans are dying” (Dr. Ira Byock.) The purpose of this paper is not to support either side, rather this paper will discuss what euthanasia really is, the past of euthanasia, and both the positive and negative sides of euthanasia.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the purpose of this paper is not to support either side, but to discuss what euthanasia really is.
- Explains that euthanasia is the act or practice of killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering.
- Argues that euthanasia is a rejection of the importance and value of human life.
- Argues that euthanasia is a libertarian movement for human freedom and the right of choice, or an aggressive drive to exterminate the weak, old, and different.
- Explains baklinski, thaddeus, "lifesitenews mobile | shock study: organs harvested from euthanized patients make better transplants."
- Explains euthanasia suicide mercy-killing right-to-die physician assisted suicid living wills research.
- Explains sgreccia, bishop, "euthanasia and children: the economic factor | zenit - the world seen from rome."
- Argues that euthanasia is the last resort for patients who are in critical pain, terminally ill, and no longer wants to suffer.
908 wordsRead More - The Euthanasia Debateanalytical essayFraser, Sharon I. and Walters, James W. “Death: Whose Decision? Euthanasia and the Terminally Ill.” Journal of Medical Ethics 26.2 Apr. (2000):121-125 Web. 1 May 2012
In this essay, the author
- Opines that there is a long, ongoing battle in the institutional review boards, ethics committee, and the united states federal court over physician assisted suicide and euthanasia.
- Opines that euthanasia and pas need to be addressed clearly and society needs the correct information to make the right decisions and pursue action.
- Advocates for a more peaceful death for the terminally ill patient. the supreme court ruled in 1997 that americans don't get the constitutional "right to die".
- Argues that medical professionals should be allowed the freedom to make the decision for the patient within their care plan.
- Opines that medicine wants to fix things, but the reality is that we can't fix everybody. human beings get sick and die. they feel guilty when performing compressions on ninety-five-year-olds.
- Analyzes how janice hudson, in her book trauma junkie, is subjected to four months of a slow painful death, brain dead with ulcers covering her body until each of her limbs are amputated, rots and the pain medication no longer keeps her comfortable.
- Argues that society already has a way to speak for oneself when unable to make medical decisions, called living wills, and physicians directives.
- Explains fraser, sharon i., and walters, james w. “death: whose decision? euthanasia and the terminally ill.” journal of medical ethics 26.2 apr.
- Explains hanson, lc, and rodgman e. the use of living wills at the end of life. a national study.
- States that hudson, janice, trauma junkie: memoirs of an emergency flight nurse, firefly books, new york, 2001, 2010.
- Explains olevitch, barbara a. protecting psychiatric patients from the assisted-suicide movement : insights and strategies.
- Explains paterson, craig, assisted suicide and euthanasia : a natural law ethics approach.
1590 wordsRead More - Death with Dignitynarrative essayJane Doe is an older woman who suffers from metastasis of a cancer that has invaded her entire skeletal structure. Her anti-cancer medication has failed and radiation therapy no longer offers hope. Jane is wracked by pain and unable to leave her bed, she struggles to cope in a body that no longer responds to the narcotics (Williams, 1997). Jane is terminally ill.
In this essay, the author
- Describes campbell's ten years of "death with dignity" in the new atlantis.
- Explains that the campaign to respond to these fears uses the term "death with dignity" to describe giving dying patients a measure of control over their final days.
- Cites altimari, d., and childress, j. f. (2009). principles of biomedical ethics.
- States ganzini, goy, and dobscha's reasons for seeking physician aid in dying. greenlaw, quill, & kamisar.
- Cites widdershoven, g. and williams, l. (1997). a wesleyan response to the "post-modern" demand for autonomy & the right-to-die.
1384 wordsRead More - Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Debate Continuesopinionated essayWennberg, Robert. Terminal Choices: Euthanasia, Suicide, and the Right to Die. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Co.,1990.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that passive and active euthanasia are not equally acceptable.
- Explains that emanuel, dr. ezekiel et al., "euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: attitudes and experiences of oncology patients and the public."
- Opines that passive and active euthanasia are equally acceptable.
- Cites united states v. rutherford, 442 u.s.
- Explains that wennberg, robert. terminal choices: euthanasia, suicide, and the right to die. grand rapids, michigan, eerdmans publishing co., 1990.
- Analyzes how jack kevorkian offered the footage to cbs to dramatize his campaign for euthanasia for terminally and chronically ill patients.
- Cites koenig, dr. harold et al., lee v. oregon, 891 f.supp. 1429, vacated on other grounds.
1772 wordsRead More - right to dieexplanatory essayThe subject of end of life care is one of great controversy and brings positive and negative
In this essay, the author
- Explains that palliative care is an option for individuals who have been given a terminal prognosis.
- Explains that america brings the norms, values, and beliefs of their culture with them. physicians have to follow these values.
- Explains that the micro scale is based on an individual's decisions in their end of life choices.
- Explains coolen, best, lima, sabel, and paulozzi, (2009). overdose deaths involving prescription drugs.
- Analyzes the possibility of voluntarily stopping of eating and drinking within the context of the patient's request for a hastened death.
- Explains that the subject of end of life care is one of great controversy and brings positive and negative emotions in the parties involved.
- Explains that death refers to the permanent cessation of all vital functions: the end of life. when people are faced with the reality of their ultimate demise, they may experience depression and feel like they're a burden on their loved ones.
- Explains that palliative care is essentially end of life care. it specializes in keeping the patient as comfortable as possible, and giving them pain management.
- Explains that the desire for a hastened death is often kept secret, but it's usually an intentional and voluntary decision of someone who is still very much competent.
- Explains that clinically depressed and suicidal people are physically able to orally ingest fluids and food, but choose not to.
- Explains that physician assisted suicide has been a controversial topic in our culture, raising the question if it is our right to choose this option. terminally ill patients often decide to end their pain and suffering on their own terms.
- Opines that protocol is a potentially devastating option for those left grieving, but is it an exercise?
- Explains that decisions on end of life care are often based on religion and culture. american values emphasize autonomy and an individual's right to make their own.
- Explains that the patient self determination act of 1990 was created to ensure that those rights are protected.
- Explains that culture can dramatically impact how one reacts to death and the decisions they make. some cultures believe that we should choose the option of having all available treatments to sustain life.
- Concludes that the right to die is an individual choice driven by one's belief in what is right for them.
845 wordsRead More - Right To Dieanalytical essayIn John A. Robertson's essay, "Cruzan: No Rights Violated," he argues that the decision made by the Missouri Supreme Court to deny Nancy Beth Cruzan's parents' request to have their daughter's artificial nutrition and hydration tube removed was not a violation of Nancy Beth Cruzan's right to refuse treatment because she had not personally refused treatment. Robertson also claims that keeping Cruzan alive with this particular medical treatment does not alienate her constitutional rights, or her parents'. Robertson states that, " A permanently vegetative patient does not have interests that can be harmed," simply because he/she cannot feel pain and doesn't know his/her present condition.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes john a. robertson's essay, ''cruzan: no rights violated', in which he argues that the decision made by the missouri supreme court to deny nancy beth cruzan’s parents’ request to have her artificial nutrition and hydration tube removed was not a violation of her right to refuse treatment.
- Analyzes robertson's argument that an incompetent patient has the right to have their medical treatment decided by another person on the presumption that it follows with their previous beliefs.
- Argues that the supreme court should not extend a family's privacy to include refusal of necessary treatment when the treatment is not causing harm to the child.
- Explains robertson's argument that if a person wants to refuse treatment while incompetent, it is their obligation to make an 'independent' directive, which is not an undue burden on persons who wish to issue directives against medical care.
- Analyzes robertson's argument that people who criticize the cruzan case tend to find the missouri supreme court decision to not allow nancy’s parents to have her nutrition and hydration line removed unconstitutional.
- Opines that missouri should permit the family to stop nancy's treatment and end their own ordeal, but missouri violates no constitutional rights.
- Disagrees with robertson's argument that keeping nancy connected to the feeding tube does not violate her parents' constitutional rights.
- Analyzes robertson's claim that a person should create specific directives to prevent something against their wishes, but the state is saying that the evidence, or directive, has to be 'clear and convincing evidence.'
- Analyzes robertson's view that nancy is no longer a person, while mary ann warren is on the same path. dogs and cats are said to be alive and have laws that protect them against inhumane treatment.
- Argues that nancy's right to die is not permissible because she cannot express that she doesn't want to be on life support to keep her body alive while her mind does not work.
- Explains robertson's argument that nancy is no longer a person. a parent has the right to abort the fetus because it does not possess personhood.
- Opines that it is morally permissible to 'quot;abort' nancy as well. if nancy no longer is a person with rights, then someone has the right to terminate her.
- Opines that they agree with robertson's opinion that the missouri supreme court’s ruling violated no ones constitutional rights. they were relieved to learn that a state judge overruled the original judgment.
1711 wordsRead More