Euthanasia: Is It Right or Wrong?

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Recommended: Ethical conflicts about voluntary and non voluntary euthanasia

Many people may say there is a fine line between right and wrong, but when the choice comes to end someone's life in order to end their suffering, who's to say where that line lies? When it comes to assisted suicide, for me that line is drawn on the side where assisted suicide is right but only under certain circumstances. “No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share” There are several different types of euthanasia. The first is called "voluntary euthanasia" which is where the patient is willing and wanting to die. The second is called "involuntary euthanasia" which is where the victim is unwilling and not wanting to die. The third type of euthanasia is called "active euthanasia" which is where the victim or doctor uses drugs to end the life of the victim. The fourth type of euthanasia is called "passive euthanasia" which is where the victim is killed by withdrawing the necessary needs to stay alive, such as water, food, drugs or medical surgical procedures. The fifth type of euthanasia is called "physician-assisted suicide" which is where the doctor is the one killing the patients. The last type of euthanasia is called "assisted suicide" which is suicide that is aided by another person. (http://www.terrisfight.org/facts-about-euthanasia/) In my view, I think any type of suicide is wrong. Under certain circumstances, it’s understandable, although still wrong. Studies show, that the top five reasons given by patients who elected physician assisted suicide in 2005 were: fear of decreasing ability to do enjoyable activities, fear of loss of dignity, fear of losing autonomy, fear of losing control of bodily functions and fear of being a burd... ... middle of paper ... ...ason is one I’m not sure I like too much, because dogs and humans are two totally different things, although both are living, I believe that dogs share a universal soul while humans are each individual. One last argument is: “Keeping people alive costs a lot of money, which could be used to save other people's lives” this argument also bothers me a bit. It’s true that keeping people alive costs money, but that money is FOR keeping people alive. Although the people being kept alive aren’t willing to live, that alone counters my debate. (http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/christian_perspectives/life/euthanasia/for.htm) When it comes to a family member or a loved one of your own, how would you feel about having to be put in a position where you have to choose life or death for that person? What would you pick? Even if that person wanted to die, where do you draw the line?

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