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Recommended: Euthanasia as an ethical issue

I walked into your hospital room and noticed that the sky-blue walls matched the life-support machines. I tiptoed to the side of the bed then touched your forehead. All you did was open your eyes to look around while tears rolled down your cheeks. I thought to myself perhaps you did not know who was there. The doctor attempted numerous times to explain to our family that you sustained a C2-C6 spinal cord injury, so your quality of life would diminish greatly. I still hear those words in my head sometimes, “she wanted the doctor to help her pass away.” They knew that euthanasia was the best option; consequently, your boyfriend did not agree.
When a person hears the term euthanasia, he or she might define the word as murder or assisted suicide, which is not the case. Euthanasia is a legal action to assist an individual to die peacefully; he or she takes medications or unplugs himself or herself from life support. A doctor can also help the patient to pass away to avoid suffering due to an incurable disease or traumatic experience (“Euthanasia.”). Some people are against legalizing euthanasia; nevertheless, I believe in the legalization of euthanasia, but only in certain circumstances. In my opinion, euthanasia would aid a person to pass on with dignity, be an advantage in the healthcare field, and aid to end a patient’s suffering.
Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of Hospice, said the following quote, which is my favorite passages on dying with dignity.
"You matter because you are you.
You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, also to live until you die (Mead)."
I believe this quote is the best when thinking of letting a person die with his or her dignity. Someone...

... middle of paper ...

.... Euthanasia would allow a person to pass away with his or her dignity. This would also be an advantage to the health care system, for it would provide more hospital beds and lower medical costs. Lastly, this would allow a patient to decide whether they would want to end his or her suffering. Looking at the example of my great Aunt, euthanasia would have helped her die with dignity. I wish that when I walked into your hospital room had been the day that our family let you go, for a person should have the choice “To be, or not to be,” (Crowther).

Works Cited

Crowther, J. N.p. Web. 7 Dec 2013. .
"Euthanasia." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. .
Mead, M.. N.p.. Web. 29 Nov 2013. .

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