The Pros And Cons Of Euthanasia

Euthanasia wasn’t seen as an issue until the Christians began to look further into it. The Christians realized that it was morally wrong and began to crack down on the use of euthanasia to end a life. Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician known as the father of medicine, wrote what is called the Hippocratic oath. This oath required any new physicians to swear, by the healing gods, to uphold the ethical standards of the time (Yount 25). Euthanasia, any action that quickens the death of a terminally ill person, is not legal in most places in the United States. Today’s society finds the act of euthanasia unethical, impractical, and sinful. Euthanasia is seen as unethical because it weakens the respect for life. People think that if euthanasia becomes a voluntary thing, eventually it will become involuntary and aged or sick patients will be targeted. Euthanasia is also seen as impractical because the medicine and technology needed to hold the issue at bay is readily available. If proper palliative care were offered then euthanasia would be unnecessary and there would not be any patients asking for euthanasia. It is also seen as impractical because there is no way to properly regulate the process, and doctors would have too much power.

If the palliative and hospice care were good enough and available to everyone in need of it, thoughts of euthanasia in terminally ill patients would be nearly nonexistent. It is best for a patient and his or her family or friends to be with each other until the end. With enough support from everyone, no matter how much pain, the patient should be set for the rest of his or her life. Palliative care also follows most religions, which means that there would be no reason for anyone to turn it down. If any important steps are taken to help out with the world’s euthanasia problem, palliative care should be one of the first plans put into