The Laws Regarding Euthanasia

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The Laws Regarding Euthanasia

An Introduction

Euthanasia is the act or practice of ending the life of an individual

suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition.

So far, the Netherlands is the only jurisdiction in the world that

permits euthanasia; it also permits assisted suicide (The state of

Oregon permits assisted suicide also.) The difference between assisted

suicide and euthanasia all comes down to the last act- the act without

which the death wouldn't have occurred. If a third party performs the

last act that intentionally causes a patient's death, euthanasia has

occurred. For example, giving a patient a lethal injection would be

considered euthanasia. On the other hand, if the person who dies

performs the last act, assisted suicide has taken place. So, it would

be assisted suicide if a person swallows an overdose of drugs that has

been provided by a doctor for the purpose of causing death.

ForA change to the law

Many people today believe it is morally wrong to keep some one alive

against their own will. I must say I have to agree. Some ask 'Why are

people forced to stay alive?' The answer is they aren't. A lot of

people think that euthanasia is needed so patients won't be forced to

remain alive by being "hooked up" to machines. But the law states that

patients or their families can refuse treatment even if it will

increase the likelihood of the patient dying. But this isn't enough.

Even though the patient has the right to refuse treatment, it could

still mean months of suffering before death. If euthanasia isn't

legalised then more innocent people will go to prison. For instance,

imagine a fifty ...

... middle of paper ...

...' This is a frightening prospect

for then people could be forced into euthanasia for the sake of saving

money. Laws against euthanasia and are in place to prevent abuse and

to protect people from unscrupulous doctors and others. They are not,

and never have been, intended to make anyone suffer.

My View

I agree that it would be extremely difficult to formulate a justice

system for euthanasia that actually works. But my essay wasn't

supposed to be about the new law that should be put in place; it was

about the fact that the current law needs to change - fast. We just

can't go on pretending that it will never happen to us because it

will. We will all die someday, one out of every three in pain. Do you

honestly want to be lying in your deathbed, terminally ill, in agony,

thinking 'I wish it could all just end now?'

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