...A gravely ill man lies in bed awaiting death. He exerts all his energy upon every breath he takes. One of life’s agonies is waiting for it all to be over. Euthanasia, a remedy for this man’s unfortunate situation, could be his solution to happiness. It has been a long disputed act in the United States and Europe. Euthanasia is the practice of painlessly ending the lives of people who have incurable, painful, or distressing diseases or handicaps. Euthanasia is sometimes called ‘mercy killing’. To begin, one aspect of euthanasia’s benefits is the fact that the quality of life when a person is chronically ill tends to be very bad. Euthanasia can end an uncomfortable and painful life. Secondly, euthanasia can save families money on medical bills. The cost of keeping a person alive with an unfortunate fate would be higher than a person who chooses to pass away. Lastly, a person, legally, should have the right to end their life. Firstly, the issue of quality of life plays a large role in the support of euthanasia. Lying in bed all day can be a form of torture within itself. Bed sores and boredom result from staying in bed, wasting away. Also, illness such as cancerous diseases and other sicknesses decline the quality of life. Of course, pain plays a role in this matter. It’s very difficult to function in everyday life when pain is a constant companion. To most people with any of these problems, in their point of view, value of existence can be low. Continuing along on this issue,...
Words: 553 - Pages: 3
...in the world today is to legalize euthanasia, and already several countries are considering the passing of legal bills to make euthanasia legal. Argument I: Euthanasia in our modern time is seen as a merciful solution, not as a crime, and it is justified by human feelings and understanding. A- Counter Argument: Euthanasia is nothing than an act of suicide, and hence, it is as morally wrong and unacceptable as suicide is. B- Refutation: Suicide and euthanasia are morally different because suicide is the choice of death as one of several options whereas in euthanasia it is the only choice to end permanent and unbearable pain and suffering. Argument II: Euthanasia should be legalized because this is the only way to regulate a concept that is practiced all over the world anyway. A- Counter Argument: Doctors who assist patients to commit euthanasia should be punished as criminals, because according to their oath, they are supposed to elongate the lives of their patients, not to end them. B- Refutation: Doctors who assist euthanasia cannot be treated as criminals if their intentions are to relieve patients of permanent and unbearable suffering. Medical assisted euthanasia is not in violation with the oath that doctors take to relieve their patients of unbearable and permanent pain. Argument III: Euthanasia has deep roots as it has been practiced by human civilizations. A- Counter Argument: Euthanasia was practiced by barbarian and inhuman...
Words: 1641 - Pages: 7
...Bahar February 2012 Introduction The word Euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu means “good” and thanatos means “death”. In Ancient Greece it meant literally "the good death". The term euthanasia normally means that the person who wishes to commit suicide must initiate the act. The Oxford English Dictionary Online (2nd edition, 1989; online version Sep. 2011) provides the following definitions of euthanasia: "A gentle and easy death...[T]he means of bringing about a gentle and easy death... However, in today’s society term euthanasia includes both voluntary and involuntary termination of life. Euthanasia has many meanings. Except for involuntary euthanasia, all these terms are closely related because the victim requests the action. The only difference is who is actually committing the act, Voluntary euthanasia is a help to mentally competent person to die through the assistance of others and can be divided in two categories. Passive Euthanasia means causing the death of a person by withdrawing some form of support and letting nature take its course. For example: removing life support, stopping medical procedures, stopping food and water and allowing the person to dehydrate or starve to death, and not delivering CPR. Active Euthanasia involves causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from that person. For many people, euthanasia is a preferable option compare to loss of independence...
Words: 2821 - Pages: 12
...This essay will address the social issue of euthanasia on terminally ill patients in Australia. This issue will be analyzed using the cultural perspective and functionalism theory. Euthanasia is not legal in Australia, most people who believed Roman Catholicism think that euthanasia is an unethical behavior, so that people lose their desire for life. However, the average percent of terminally ill patients who die in pain are 55%, they did not choose euthanasia which always suffering from pain in order to make their family happy. Although some people try to carry out euthanasia in the terminally ill patient, they still will suffer the criticism of public opinion. This to resulted in these people not only to suffer the pain of losing their family member, but also to face of public opinion. Similarly, some countries(Oregon, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands) to legalize euthanasia, which also received a public opinion accusations that the government does not pay attention to human nature. The main opposition to euthanasia in Australia is Catholic population. Euthanasia occurs mainly in critically ill patients and people with brain death. The adverse effects caused by euthanasia for people concentrated on emotionally and physically. When critically ill patients or their family help their choose euthanasia, which means they will suffer blame on the society. In a short time, they will be immersed in the pain of the bereaved and blamed from the society, they may be through a variety...
Words: 687 - Pages: 3
...Argumentative Essay: Euthanasia Euthanasia is another term for mercy killing. It is usually done by doctors to their patients who are terminally ill. Although euthanasia is done by doctors in certain situations to patients and is legal in some countries, euthanasia should not be practiced or be legalized because it devalues lives, it might become involuntary and doctors should cure and not kill. According to the article “Euthanasia: Arguments Against Euthanasia”, people might think that death is better than being sick. They might think that death is the only solution to problems. People who support euthanasia say that it is done as self-defense. For example, a soldier is brutally wounded and might die if not treated immediately. Is partner decides to ask his consent for euthanasia to end his suffering. Killing for self-defense means that you kill to save another one’s life but in euthanasia, you do not save anyone’s life. Euthanasia devalues lives because it tells us that we can take our or someone’s life easily. Euthanasia is done to a person with his consent. It is the decision of that person if he wants to do it. According to the article “Arguments Against Euthanasia”, people might decide to go for euthanasia because of emotional and psychological pressures. For example, a patient is suffering because of an illness and his doctor said to him that it is better for him to die. That person might go for it because he suffers too much and his doctor said that it is better...
Words: 416 - Pages: 2
...Euthanasia Priya John BSN, RN ST Joseph’s College , Maine Nursing Ethics NU 509 December 13, 2012 Abstract The controvertible topic of euthanasia provokes moral reflection on the care for dying patients. Euthanasia not only raises questions about the morality of a particular decision regarding the care of an individual patient but also an ethics of having a specific social approach and convention. Through this article I have presented my thoughts about legalizing euthanasia. Euthanasia Introduction Death and dying are issues of deep humane concern for many people in a variety of circumstances and contexts. Around the world the point of someone’s death is regularly prominence by medical end-of-life decisions. These decisions refer to a variety of choices with regard to withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatments. Debates on voluntary or active euthanasia, in all its aspect, proceed without a solution or prospect of resolution. Since there is no substantial middle ground on which all can agree, the discussion does not progress far beyond an exchange of opinions, however well informed the participants. The arguments for euthanasia have to do with quality of life and respect for autonomy .Arguments against euthanasia have to do with non-maleficence, sanctity of life, and the notion of the slippery slope. Definitions of Euthanasia “Euthanasia is defined as act of administering medication or performing other interventions with the intention of causing a patient's death”...
Words: 823 - Pages: 4
...March 2010 Euthanasia Euthanasia, also mercy killing, is the practice of ending a life so as to release an individual from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering. Euthanasia is a merciful means to and end of long-term suffering. Euthanasia is a relatively new dilemma for the United States and has gained a bad reputation from negative media hype surrounding assisted suicides. Euthanasia has a purpose and should be evaluated as humanely filling a void created by our sometimes inhumane modern society. Some people think that euthanasia is not acceptable in our society because of a variety of reasons. Many who oppose of euthanasia fear that if it were to be legalized then many people would die needlessly and murders in so- called "mercy killings" would run rampant. Others believe that since we are the property of God then we should wait until He is ready to receive us. Many churches and religious groups oppose euthanasia stating that the sixth commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" also extends to euthanasia. During his February 1st 2010 Sunday blessing, Pope Benedict XVI said that euthanasia is a “false solution” to suffering and love can help confront pain. Many medical doctors also oppose euthanasia. They say that assisted suicide "violates one's will to survive" and that it violates our dignity. They believe that one of our natural Nagaro 2 human goals is to survive and if we practice euthanasia, then that...
Words: 587 - Pages: 3
...Legalizing Euthanasia 1 Euthanasia is defined as “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy”. (Unknown, 2012) Euthanasia ends the individuals’ life by either lethal injection or the suspension of medical treatment. Euthanasia is not legalized in many places. When it comes to the debate of Euthanasia, there are more arguments on why it should be legalized than why it should stay illegal. There’s no doubt about it that constant medical bills are beyond expensive. The cost of the accessories, medicines, and machines that are needed to keep an individual alive are pricey. In 2009 an article said that 60% of people who go bankrupt are troubled by medical bills. (Tamkins, 2009) In 2007 another article explains that 72 million working-age Americans are paying off medical debt or have medical bill problems. If the number of elderly adults that deal with the same issues are included, then the total rises to 79 million. (Gonzalez, 2012) Years of everlasting medical bills and useless treatments will leave debt to the patient, family, and loved ones. That is money no one cannot afford to lose. There is no need to pay to perpetuate a life of a patient that has no chance of getting better and or living a regular life again. There is no need to pay to prolong a life of a patient that wants to die. There is no need in paying a colossal amount of money every day to suffer. Euthanasia is the...
Words: 1557 - Pages: 7
...Euthanasia Euthanasia is an assisted suicide, also known as mercy killing. In other words, it is the act of killing someone who has a painful incurable disease. Actually, euthanasia is a very controversial issue. Some people claim that it is a solution for patients who are terminally ill. However, I totally disagree with this kind of solution. 3.1 Autonomy People's autonomy or self-determination is an important concept in the debate on legalizing euthanasia. Proponents argue that the ban on euthanasia imposes too great a limit on the individual's scope for controlling the end of his or her life and what shape death will take. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that self-determination would be false autonomy with respect to euthanasia, or...
Words: 1302 - Pages: 6
...Euthanasia: Live and Let Die April 11, 2013 Euthanasia: Live and Let Die In 2004, Pope John Paul II said “A man, even if seriously sick or prevented in the exercise of its higher functions, is and will be always a man… he will never become a ‘vegetable’ or an ‘animal’. The intrinsic value and personal dignity of every human being does not change depending on their circumstances” (Pope John Paul II, 2004). Euthanasia or assisted suicide is the deliberate action of ending a life in order to relieve unstoppable suffering. Euthanasia is legal in Albania, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, as well as some US states. In some of these countries, euthanasia is generally executed by a medical professional taking into account his patient’s needs and desires; but sometimes a medical professional can dispense the last medication ending his patient’s life without the patient’s consent. However, euthanasia and assisted suicide is forbidden in the majority of countries and could be penalized by a fourteen years prison sentence. (“Euthanasia and assisted, intro”). Legalizing euthanasia is extremely controversial moral and legal issue throughout the world, but achieving that goal is extremely necessary. Although legalizing euthanasia could cause negative effects for society, the positive side of this controversy indicates that asking for death is important for those patients who have decided that after a certain point, the pain has exceeded the desire of living. On the one hand...
Words: 1548 - Pages: 7
...To this day, one of the biggest controversial topics that continue to spark endless discussions is the public approval of euthanasia. Euthanasia which is commonly known as “assisted suicide” is the deliberate action of ending a life to relieve continuous pain and suffering (Nordqvist, 2010). This has become a complicated global issue, as various cultures battle with the list of ethical, religious, and legal factors that play a major part in the act. Many see euthanasia as a benefit not only for the patient, but for the patient’s family as well. In this case, the practice is able to end one’s life in a peaceful manner, while a financial and emotional burden can also be lifted off of the family members. In the eyes of others, euthanasia is an act that goes against God’s will and the idea that death is spiritually important and shouldn’t be altered (BBC, 2009). Aside from the fact that euthanasia is also referred to as “mercy killing”, it is still the act of murder—an unlawful premeditated killing of another human being (Answers, n.d.). I personally am against the practice of euthanasia because it is immoral and wrongful. Recurrently, there are cases where patients aren’t given a choice when it comes to euthanasia. In fact, many ill patients lack the sufficient knowledge needed to ease their own symptoms, and aren’t in stable enough conditions to make critical decisions revolving life and death. After being in constant care, it is common for these patients to feel anxious about...
Words: 1507 - Pages: 7
...longevity and medical advances, a discussion over euthanasia is kindled in the last years. The term euthanasia (Greek, “beautiful death” ) originally means that humans, who did not feel their life worth living due to outside influences as a right to a self-chosen death possessed. In Europe, there are different ways of handling euthanasia determined by laws. To discuss this complex topic in the range of this paper, it is necessary to circumscribe the content. In general, there are four different ways of euthanasia. Active euthanasia means killing someone on his explicit demand, normally practised by physiscians with pharmaceutical additives. Indirect euthanasia describes the medical therapy to avoid unendurable pain under accepting a shorter life expactancy. The third way is passive euthanasia, which implies the abdication of life prolonging measures. The fourth and last method of euthanasia is medically assisted suicide. In fact, this stands for giving someone the possibility to commit suicide, whereas the patient has to do the last step on his own. To discuss and describe the different ways of euthanasia in a good way, we want to take a closer look to Europe, especially to the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. This selection is based on the fact, that there are the three major types of handling euthanasia with the corresponding judical solution in each country. In the Netherlands it is legal to practise active euthanasia by a physician with the corresponding legal regulations...
Words: 2182 - Pages: 9
...Euthanasia Persuasive Speech Topic: Euthanasia: The right to live and let die. General Purpose: Persuade Specific purpose: To persuade my audience that euthanasia should be consider and allowed in terminal illnesses cases, diseases and in special situations. Thesis statement: Euthanasia is about giving people the right to choose if they want to live or not. It also will save the expensive amount of money in medical bills, and it also stops the person from having a bad quality of life. I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention getter: Background: Euthanasia is a Greek term, which means meaning ‘good death.’ Also it is known as physician assisted suicide and mercy killing. The process of Euthanasia is considered a relatively painless and merciful way to die. There are different type of Euthanasia like non-voluntary (person is in coma, too young, is severely brain damaged) voluntary (when the person refuses medical treatment, ask for medical treatment to be stopped, refuse to eat, simple decides to die), passive (withholding of common treatments necessary for the continuance of life) or active (use of lethal substances or forces to kill the patient). B. Attention getter: Think about the idea that one day you get involved in a crash accident and you ended up in vegetative state and must spend probably the rest of your life in a hospital or you ended up quadriplegic. You cannot see, walk, you lose your independence, can barely breathe and you need a machine to keep...
Words: 1392 - Pages: 6
...controversial subjects, leading people to think of every single struggle they face up to pursue happiness and find out the real meaning of life. This leads people to realize that it is worth being committed to life and overcoming every obstacle of it, showing that essence of human spirit and the importance of perseverance. However, there are extreme situations in which a person is terminally ill and there is no medical treatment that can defeat this illness, so it is believed that the best choice is the act of intentionally ending his life to relieve the pain and suffering. Although euthanasia may be a solution in some cases, it really devalues human life and it still be considered as a kind of murder so euthanasia should not be allowed in any case. Supporters of euthanasia claim that autonomy, dignity, and individuality are the highest values in people’s life and when you lose them, euthanasia seems a good choice for those whose life has been limited to pain and humiliation, as they fully depend on other people to be cared, and also depend on machines to live. There are some cases about people suffering from terminal illnesses such as AIDS or Cancer, whose pain is unbearable, the medical treatments are useless and their life expectancy is rather poor so do not they deserve the right of having a death full of dignity? Even when this is about ending with a human life, it is an honorable way of ending the life of a person and to end with its suffering. However, according to...
Words: 621 - Pages: 3
...Effects of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia on Participating Physicians Kenneth R. Stevens, Jr., M.D., FACR* Abstract: This is a review and evaluation of medical and public literature regarding the reported emotional and psychological effects of participation in physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia on the involved physicians. Materials and Methods: Articles in medical journals, legislative investigations and the public press were obtained and reviewed to determine what has been reported regarding the effects on physicians who have been personally involved in PAS and euthanasia. Results and Discussion: The physician is centrally involved in PAS and euthanasia, and the emotional and psychological effects on the participating physician can be substantial. The shift away from the fundamental values of medicine to heal and promote human wholeness can have significant effects on many participating physicians. Doctors describe being profoundly adversely affected, being shocked by the suddenness of the death, being caught up in the patient’s drive for assisted suicide, having a sense of powerlessness, and feeling isolated. There is evidence of pressure on and intimidation of doctors by some patients to assist in suicide. The effect of countertransference in the doctor-patient relationship may influence physician involvement in PAS and euthanasia. Conclusion: Many doctors who have participated in euthanasia and/or PAS are adversely affected emotionally...
Words: 2016 - Pages: 9
