Pros And Cons Of Euthanasia

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Should Euthanasia Be Legalized? Euthanasia is a very controversial topic in the United States. Euthanasia is defined as “the act or practice of killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering”(Merriam Webster Online). This can occur in various different ways such as lethal injection or suspension of medical treatment. There are many different forms of euthanasia such as voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary. Euthanasia can be characterized as active and passive. Physician-assisted suicide is also used as a term for euthanasia. Many people feel that it is unethical to practice any form of euthanasia. Some say that euthanasia is a form of murder and that it is killing innocent people when they could have …show more content…

Dating back to the 12th century people argued over the legalities and ethics of euthanasia. Many Christians opposed euthanasia, claiming that life should be under God’s control because it was His gift to us (Historical Timeline, Online). Throughout the centuries euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in any form have been challenged and opposed. Many have argued that people have a right to choose to die especially if they are terminally ill and in extreme pain. Some claim that it’s the right of a competent, terminally ill person to avoid excruciating pain and embrace a dignified death (Top 10 Pros and Cons, Online). People who are against these practices say that assisting a person in suicide is illegal and a form of murder. Another common concern is that some will choose to die rather than having to pay huge medical bills, worrying that they may leave their family members with unnecessary …show more content…

Others say that the right to live equals the right to die. Every person has the right to choose his own destiny. Some say it is inhumane to let a person live in pain. Others say that it is inhumane to kill anybody, regardless of the reasoning. Another common argument that is widely discussed is that if the government can put a person to death as a punishment, then why can’t a person choose to die (Should Euthanasia be Legalized, Online). From a biblical standpoint people believe that our bodies are God’s temple, and it is holy and not to be destroyed. The bible also states “thou shall not murder.” Real arguments are made for both sides of this debate, making it hard for not only the public, but the states as well, to come up with a clear decision on

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