The Debate of Euthanasia Legalization in Britain
The term ‘Euthanasia’ comes from the Greek word for ‘easy death’. Is
that not how we would like our end to be? Unfortunately, Euthanasia is
one of the most controversial issues being debated about in society
today. Formally called ‘mercy killing’, euthanasia is the act of
purposely making or helping someone to die, instead of allowing nature
to take it’s course. Basically, euthanasia means killing in the name
of compassion. We would all agree that every human being has the right
to life; it is the most basic and fundamental of all our rights, and
with every right comes a choice. I firmly believe that everyone has
the right to choose how he or she live and die. Every one deserves
respect, freedom and the power to control their own destiny. Yet, not
everybody will have an easy death. Some terminal pain cannot be
controlled, even with the best of care and the strongest of drugs.
Other distressing symptoms, which come with disease, such as sickness,
immobility, incontinence, breathlessness and fever cannot always be
relieved. Pain is not always the issue- quality of life is too.
Those against euthanasia say that it is morally wrong and against
God’s plan. These people believe that no one has the right to play
God. Christians believe that we are made in the image of God and
therefore human life is God’s gift to us and is sacred- we are not the
owners of life, but its guardians, we belong to God because he created
us. To them, tampering with God’s plan would be a crime in itself.
Many religions follow this belief; so do not believe in suicide or
assisted dying.
Euthanasia may also ...
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...for this type of care allowing funds saved to be spent
elsewhere where life may be usefully preserved.
All the reasons I have outlined convince me that it is crucial to
society as a whole, and to individuals in particular that euthanasia
be legalised. We think of ourselves as a caring society, one that does
not believe in causing pain and suffering, but if this is the case
then why is there still a debate on the issue of euthanasia being
legalised? I simply cannot understand how anyone with a conscience can
stand by and watch a human being whose mind and body have been plagued
by disease, and not give them the choice of leaving behind pain,
indignity and despair. I reiterate; euthanasia should be available to
whoever requests it if the circumstances justify it. We need to put an
end to this inhumane and barbaric law.
Today, voluntary euthanasia is getting closer to being legalized in more than just one state in the United States. “‘Voluntary’ euthanasia means that the act of putting the person to death is the end result of the person’s own free will” (Bender 19). “ Voluntary euthanasia is an area worthy of our serious consideration, since it would allow patients who have exhausted all other reasonable options to choose death rather than continue suffering” (Bender 19). The question of whether or not voluntary
Views on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide This essay explores the views of doctors, of the general public, and of the original Hippocratic Oath on the practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Considerable reference material is employed - from professional sources. Regarding the views of physicians on euthanasia and assisted suicide, it is difficult to get a true picture of physicians views from articles in newspapers or from journal review articles. Since euthanasia and assisted suicide
Euthanasia: The Debate for Death A recent poll founded by the Canadian Medical Association found that “only one in five doctors surveyed. . . said they would be willing to perform euthanasia if the practice were legalized. . . Twice as many – 42 percent – said they would refuse to do so” (Kirkey 1). Euthanasia is defined as giving a patient the right to die early with a physician’s assistance, and the legalization of this practice is being considered by lawmakers in many countries, including the
terminal illnesses lead to inevitable death. Health care team members working in end-of-life care are being faced with the ethical dilemmas introduced by the physician-assisted suicide legalization, also known as the Death with Dignity Act, in the United States (Lachman, 2010). Physician-assisted suicide, or euthanasia in some texts, allows mentally competent, terminally ill individuals, with less than 6 months to live, a choice to self-administer physician prescribed medication, which assists in death
conflicts. Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) is yet another contentious issue because of the ethical and moral dilemmas it provokes and partly because it implicates issues of life and death (McCormack). For a very long time, euthanasia has been a prohibited medical practice in most countries. Currently, only a handful of nations such as Netherlands and Belgium and states such as Washington, Vermont, and Oregon ascribe to it. In other countries such as Australia, Britain, Singapore
they follow the convictions of their own hearts or surrender their ideals to another power presumed to be superior in its wisdom? This dilemma between autonomy and responsibility presents itself constantly. The struggles over abortion, euthanasia, and drug legalization are perfect examples. In each of these cases, individuals are either pushing for stronger individual rights (the freedom to make decisions regarding their own lives) or a stronger stance on the behalf of their government (to legally prevent