Argument in Favor of Euthanasia

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Introduction Today, medical interventions have made it possible to save or prolong lives, but should the process of dying be left to nature? (Brogden, 2001). Phrases such as, “killing is always considered murder,” and “while life is present, so is hope” are not enough to contract with the present medical knowledge in the Canadian health care system, which is proficient of giving injured patients a chance to live, which in the past would not have been possible (Brogden, 2001). According to Brogden, a number of economic and ethical questions arise concerning the increasing elderly population. This is the reason why the Canadian society ought to endeavor to come to a decision on what is right and ethical when it comes to facing death. Uhlmann (1998) mentions that individuals’ attitudes towards euthanasia differ. From a utilitarianism point of view – holding that an action is judged as good or bad in relation to the consequence, outcome, or end result that is derived from it, and people choosing actions that will, in a given circumstance, increase the overall good (Lum, 2010) - euthanasia could become a means of health care cost containment, and also, with specific safeguards and in certain circumstances the taking of a human life is merciful and that all of us are entitled to end our lives when we see fit. What is Euthanasia? Euthanasia is one of the most recent and controversial debates today (Brogden, 2001). As per the Canadian Medical Association, euthanasia refers to the process of purposely and intentionally performing an act that is overtly anticipated to end the person’s life (CMA, 1998) There are two types of euthanasia; involuntary and voluntary euthanasia. Involuntary euthanasia is when the decision of the... ... middle of paper ... ... Association. 1998. “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.” Canadian Medical Association Board of Directors. Retrieved from http://www.cma.ca/index.php/ci_id/3214/la_id/1.htm on October 16th, 2010. Cicirelli, V.G. (1998). Views of the Elderly People Concerning End-of-Life Decisions. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 17(2), 186-203. “Clinic Gets Contract to Treat Canadian Patients.” 2000. Associated Press. Postrel, D. 1994. “State Could Cover Assisted Suicide.” Statesman-Journal. Ramabele, T. 2004. “Attitudes of the Elderly Towards Euthanasia: A Cross-cultural Study.” University of the Free State. Uhlmann, M. 1998. Last Rights: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Debated. New York: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Ward, PR. 1997. “Health Care Rationing: Can We Afford to Ignore Euthanasia?” Health Services Management Research: 10 (32-41)

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