...are on the verge of suicide? Well the only answer would be to commit it but what if that person can't find the guts to go through it alone. Well then they ask for assistance. This is called assisted suicide. Assisted suicide or in other words euthanasia is the killing by an act of an independent human being for their own benefit. There are many kinds of definitions that one must argue the fact of, what is euthanasia. Well you would have to keep reading farther on. Euthanasia can either be voluntary or non voluntary, when it then becomes murder. But what it is not is that it's not euthanasia unless the death is intentionally. It is not medical actions or withdrawing treatment. But in this essay I will give you the most frequent pros and cons of this issue. My view is that there should be allowed assisted suicide. As many people might know is that many people are against euthanasia than most others. Some examples of people being against it would be that it demeans the value of human life, which the human life could have many different views as people understand the concept of actually doing it. Anyway, in many cases, many religions do not allow the potential suicide and the killing of others. Also it would violate the Hippocratic doctors oath. Some people also believe that someday a miracle might actually happen. Lastly people think that doctors are given too much power, and by some miracle might be wrong or unethical. Also people think that assisted suicide could be mandated...
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...Euthanasia: The Peaceful Death Euthanasia is a very controversial topic throughout the United States; even though the word euthanasia means the “good death” many people oppose this option. There are different types of euthanasia: active, passive, and involuntary. Active is the most debated because it involves intentionally injecting the patient with a lethal substance in order to take their life whereas passive euthanasia is denying means of artificial life and letting nature take its course. The biggest argument with passive euthanasia is the idea that patients who are brain dead have the chance of being revived, but this is seldom achieved. Involuntary is using euthanasia against the patient’s wishes which should be the only form of euthanasia that could be considered murder. Activists debate whether taking someone’s life is right or wrong based on religious concerns or health care practices and many voice a strong opinion. Although Oregon is the only state in America with legal practices of euthanasia, assisted suicide is carried out behind the scenes in other states as well. Many pro-life activists are against the practice of taking a life because they believe it is murder, but helping someone be at peace is virtuous. Euthanasia should be legalized for the sake of the patient, the sake of the physicians in the United States, and because euthanasia cannot be considered murder given that it is the patients’ choice. One major reason euthanasia should be legalized is...
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...Running Head: Euthanasia Legalization and Society Euthanasia and Society By Tammy Sanchez Instructor: Gwen Remington Com/220 Death is an evitable part of life. Death is also the only guarantee we come into this world with. Facing the end of life may not be so clear. There have been numerous debates about the morality or assisted suicide and euthanasia for at least generations. Is it right or wrong for a physician to assist in ending the life of a terminally ill patient? The argument here would be whether for or against euthanasia and whether it is ethical or unethical act. When dealing with physicians assisted suicide, or euthanasia and society, there are many issues to discuss. But first let us define the two key words “Suicide and “Murder.” Both of these terms will play a significant role in determining whether or not physician assisted suicide is right or wrong. The word “Suicide” means to deliberately kill oneself, which could stem from several factors such as a mental and bipolar disorder, depression, drug abuse, schizophrenia, financial, relationships and alcoholism. According to the Webster’s New World Dictionary third edition defines “Murder” as an “unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another; kill inhumanly or barbarously, as in warfare.” When she or she is convicted of committing murder is punished by serving a life sentence in imprisonment or death by a lethal ingestion. When a self inflicted injury...
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...Euthanasia has raised controversy in the United States because of different views on societal, cultural, and religious ethics. Euthanasia is the killing of a person to end either horrible pain, slow death, or even some coma victims that have been in a vegetative state of a considerable amount of time. Even though I believe that euthanasia is murder, it should not be looked down upon because death should be a right for the victims and their families. The other side of the argument claims that it is immoral to kill even those who are suffering because it is God's decision who lives and who dies. Both sides of this ongoing debate have some compelling arguments. In order to understand why I am defending an action that I admit is murder requires the use of an example. If a pregnant woman is murdered and had planned on keeping her baby the murderer would be charged on a count of murder and a count of manslaughter. Now in a different scenario, If that same woman was killed on the way to an abortion clinic it would only be a count for murder, because the life dwelling inside of her was unwanted. Women are legally allowed to choose whether or not a fetus lives. Therefore, why would we allow someone to suffer when they have declare no will to live. Euthanasia and assisted suicide go together hand-in-hand. The difference between the two is that with assisted suicide the patient is guided through the process of killing themselves, but with euthanasia the physicians take a direct...
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...Euthanasia is a unique practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal disease/illness or an incurable condition by means of the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment or lethal injection. The history of this penomena dates back for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1906 when the first bill to legalize euthanasia in America was introduced in the Ohio legislature. For several years, legislatures have been turning down bills aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In 1937, the Nebraska legislature voted down a bill legalizing voluntary active euthanasia in the U.S. Only two years later, the New York legislature rejected a bill that was also aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. “In 1991 the Washington State Initiative Bill legalizing voluntary euthanasia was narrowly defeated.” (6) In 1994, Oregon passed a law to allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs, but an injunction prevented it from taking effect. As of today, euthanasia is illegal in almost every country. In fact, it is only legal in the state of Oregon and the Netherlands. These are the only two places in the world where laws specifically permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. Oregon permits assisted suicide while the Netherlands permits both euthanasia and assisted suicide. In 1995, Australia’s northern territory approved a euthanasia bill which went into effect in 1996, but it was overturned by the Australian Parliament in 1997. “Also, in 1997...
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...of the Detroit medical pathologist Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Doctor Kevorkian, known as Dr. Death, claimed to have helped 130 people commit suicide when terminally ill, died in Detroit. He was 83. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, to Armenian immigrants, Jacob...
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...Physician-assisted suicide, the good death, mercy killing, dignified death. These are all names given to EUTHANSIA. But what is euthanasia? And why is it considered to be controversial? Although the definitions used in discussions of euthanasia and assisted suicide can vary, the following are based on Special Senate Committee reports on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Euthanasia is the deliberate act undertaken by one person with the intention of ending the life of another person in order to relieve that person’s suffering. Assisted suicide is the act of intentionally killing oneself with the assistance of another who provides the knowledge, means or both. Voluntary euthanasia occurs when the act is done in accordance with the wishes of a competent individual or a valid advance directive. Non-voluntary euthanasia occurs when the act is done without knowledge of the wishes of a competent individual or with respect to an incompetent individual. Involuntary euthanasia, which is indistinguishable from murder or manslaughter, occurs when the act is done against the wishes of a competent individual or a valid advance directive. When talking in terms of the person to die, a competent individual is capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the decision to be made and capable of communicating this decision. An incompetent individual is not capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the decision to be made, and/or is not capable of communicating the...
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...Christian decision. Mainline and Liberal Christian denominations: Pro-choice statements have been made by the United Church of Christ, and the Methodist Church on the US West coast. The 'Episcopalian (Anglican) Unitarian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Quaker movements are amongst the most liberal, allowing at least individual decision making in cases of active euthanasia The BBC wrote in an Aug. 3, 2009 online article titled "Religion & Ethics - Christianity: Euthanasia - the Christian View" on www.bbc.co.uk: "Christians are mostly against euthanasia. The arguments are usually based on the beliefs that life is given by God, and that human beings are made in God's image. Some churches also emphasise the importance of not interfering with the natural process of death... Christians believe that the intrinsic dignity and value of human lives means that the value of each human life is identical. They don't think that human dignity and value are measured by mobility, intelligence, or any achievements in life. Valuing human beings as equal just because they are human beings has clear implications for thinking about euthanasia: • patients in a persistent vegetative state, although seriously damaged, remain living human beings, and so their intrinsic value remains the same as anyone else's • so it would be wrong to treat their lives as worthless and to conclude that they 'would be better off dead' • patients who are old or sick, and who are near the end of earthly life...
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...Latimer involves an accused charged with first degree murder later convicted with second degree murder of his 12 year old daughter named Tracey. Tracey was not considered to be a normal child like all others; Tracey had a mind of a 4 month old baby who was quadriplegic. The accused confessed of taking his daughters life by inserting a hose from his pickup truck’s exhaust pipe into the cab, where he put his daughter. This later caused the daughter dying from carbon monoxide. Raising and taking care of a disabled child may be difficult, but does it go to such extremes where you have to take the life of your loved one? I think it’s wrong to help assist suicide under any circumstances. Whether the person is suffering or not, you’re still taking the law in your hands. Suicide in general isn’t acceptable, even though everyone is responsible for themselves, people do not have the right to die. For R. vs. Latimer case, what the court decided was the accused should be convicted of second degree murder, sentencing him life imprisonment without parole eligibility for 10 years. Although what the jury recommended was he should be eligible for parole after one year. But under the Canadian law it states anyone who is found guilty of second degree murder, requires a 10 year minimum jail sentence. Knowing that the accused daughter was disabled and was suffering, so he killed her to take her away from the pain, it was still a case of murder. The accused daughter was too young to give informed...
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...What is voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide? Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are similar. Forms of assisted suicide involve the guidance and supervision of a licensed physician. There is a difference between euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicides’ preparation is when, “A doctor’s helping their distressed patient to commit suicide at the patient’s autonomous appeal” (Varelius, 2013). Euthanasia, on the other hand, “consists of administering lethal medication to the patient,” by the licensed physician (Varelius, 2013). There are countless numbers of questions and concerns about an individual’s quality of life. Under no circumstances, suicide is never the ideal way for an individual to die. However, if physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia were legal and regulated in all states, then the United States Constitution may salvage lives by giving people the right to elect how they wish to die. This is a matter of legal issues, moral issues, and...
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...Euthanasia is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient's intolerable and incurable suffering. Physician-assisted suicide occurs when a physician facilitates a patient's death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act (AMA Policy on End-of-Life). Due to the fact that this is a controversial subject, it is not widely accepted by many. As of right now, euthanasia is only legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg, and assisted suicide is only legal in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Albania and in the American states of Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico Washington, and Montana. We control the course of our own...
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...SHOULD EUTHANASIA BE LEGALIZED IN INDIA? Table of Contents I. Abstract 2 II. Introduction 2 III. The Legal and Social Position in India 5 III.1 Religious Views on the issue of euthanasia 7 IV. Legal and Social Position in Canada 8 V. Comparative Analysis 13 VI. Stance of the medical practitioners as per the medical ethics 15 VII. Conclusion 15 Abstract It is often said that every person has a right to life and that too a right to live with dignity. There have been a number of scholars who have argued that the right to life which has been granted to a person would be useless if certain rights ancillary to the right are not being provided to the individual. A few of these rights include the right to food, right to clean and hygienic environment, right to personal liberty, right to make a choice and right to live a dignified life. But on analysing the right with a liberal view and expanding the scope of the ‘right to life’ a little the question that arises is whether the ‘right to life’ include a ‘right to die’? As per a layman’s understanding, the question that whether you want to live or die is a personal decision. The Constitution or any other Law should not dictate that whether we should exercise that right of ours or not. This is because of the prime reason that because the Government, who is making the Law, does not know the problems with an individual’s life therefore it cannot be competent enough to make a decision. However...
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...Zurain Merchant Mrs. Panvini 11/2/2015 Euthanasia is known as assisted suicide which is the killing of a person by letting them die to prevent pain or suffering. The legalization of Euthanasia is heavily debated today. There are strong arguments for both sides of the argument. Euthanasia is “wrongfully killing” and it should not be allowed in the New York State. If euthanasia is legalized in New York State, many negative affects might follow and our states commitment to improve the ill and sick can weaken. Euthanasia should not be legalized in New York State since ensuring that someone’s pain is managed is a better option than to kill them. “The better response to patients in pain is not to kill them, but to ensure that their pain is...
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...1113 1 Nov 2012 Euthanasia: Who Owns the Right to Die? Throughout there have been many instances in which the pain and suffering of individuals overcomes their own desire to live. It is a tragedy to say the least, and it is something that nobody wants to ever have to deal with under any circumstances. In very rare cases in the more recent past, some have turned to others to help ease their ongoing pain in one of the quickest, but extremely permanent, ways. Euthanasia, or sometimes also referred to as assisted suicide, is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. The choice itself is not for everyone, and never should be. It should be reserved to the very few who’s daily physical pain is keeping them in much more agony, and that they themselves are in a conscious state to know what they are experiencing and that they would like it more otherwise. On one side, you can say that in the end it should be the individuals’ choice themselves, and other people should not stand in the way simply because they do not know what they are experiencing in the case of a terminal illness. It may be hard for those who care about the individual, but they should be able to respect the wishes of those who are in pain to have some type of closure. But on the other hand, these same people might not be in the right mental or physical states to make an educated decision that has not been influenced by others own opinions . Euthanasia has both positive and...
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...Research Euthanasia is the termination of a very sick person's life in order to relieve them of their suffering. A person who undergoes euthanasia usually has an incurable condition. But there are other instances where some people want their life to be ended. In many cases, it is carried out at the person's request but there are times when they may be too ill and the decision is made by relatives, medics or, in some instances, the courts. The term is derived from the Greek word euthanatos which means easy death. Euthanasia is against the law in the UK where it is illegal to help anyone kill themselves. Voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide can lead to imprisonment of up to 14 years. The issue has been at the centre of very heated debates for many years and is surrounded by religious, ethical and practical considerations. Voluntary Euthanasia - When a competent person makes a voluntary and enduring request to be helped to die. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/overview/introduction.shtml •active euthanasia – where a person deliberately intervenes to end someone’s life – for example, by injecting them with a large dose of sedatives •passive euthanasia – where a person causes death by withholding or withdrawing treatment that is necessary to maintain life, such as withholding antibiotics from someone with pneumonia •voluntary euthanasia – where a person makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help to do this •non-voluntary euthanasia – where a person is...
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