Over the past few years, euthanasia in animals has been a topic many have argued against simply because it is inhumane. Euthanasia in the past was used to end an animal’s life of suffering through a process of painless and permanent sleep. As of today, this “term” is best described as the act of mass murder of many innocent animals. According to PETA, “approximately 6 to 8 million animals are handled by animal shelters in the U.S. each year. Even though some are reclaimed or adopted, nearly 4 million unwanted dogs and cats are left with nowhere to go” (Euthanasia, 2015). Only an animal suffering from an illness or pain should go through the process of true euthanasia, as most people would believe. For most, the solution to this problem is to …show more content…
Those who strive towards true euthanasia believe animal shelters should expand so they can house more animals and prevent innocent lives from being taken inhumanely. Here, those who are for true euthanasia have discovered the core problem with this solution. If shelters don’t expand, many will suffer from pain and loneliness living in confined cages or end up in laboratories where they would be tormented until they die. However, building more shelters could never keep up with the increasing number of homeless animals. Until the overpopulation of cats and dogs is brought under control, nothing can be changed. In addition, building more shelters would cost more money. Shelters today have a hard enough time staying open since most are run by donations. This can cause a number of problems for those who are trying to rid of inhumane euthanasia with the big one being more lives would be taken. In today’s society, especially money is really tight due to the struggling …show more content…
Shelters such as the Houston SPCA use a method true to the euthanasia definition. They use a three-step evaluation of new animals, consisting of three tests: the first test determines an animals’ behavior towards other animals, the second evaluates an animals’ reactions to uncommon sounds or movements, and the third evaluates an animals’ all around behavior towards kids and adults. If an animal doesn’t pass at least one of these tests, they will be put down peacefully. Although some animals don’t make it through, these three tests are helpful to families planning to adopt a pet because no aggressive animal passes the evaluation. In addition, it keeps the population of animals
One goal of euthanasia is to limit pain and suffering of animals, in some circumstances there is unnecessary pain and extreme suffering by prolonging your pet’s life. In the blog, “Is It Ethical to Euthanize Your Dog?” (2011), by Elliot D. Cohen, Ph.D, a few reasons are given for euthanasia, even among his heavy
Bernards, Neal, Ed. (1989). Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints Series, Series Eds. David L. Bender and Bruno Leone. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.
Killing and disposing of animals because there is no room available for them is unnecessary and inhumane. A shelter is usually a place where something or someone is offered protection and refuge. But what happens when a shelter does the exact opposite of giving something protection? Sadly this happens to various animals each year that are brought to Kill Shelters. The ASPCA has stated that three to four million animals are euthanized in shelters in the United States: an absolutely shocking 60% of all animals that belong to shelters(McLellan). Many of these animals that are irrationally killed are completely worthy of adoption.The main reason for all these senseless killings is overpopulation. Generally when shelters can no longer locate homes for animals they can no longer keep do to overpopulation the first and simplest option that comes to mind is to euthanize them. The animals could be in perfect condition physically but the shelters still kill the animals regardless of the conditions of the animals. Also, in many cases the animals may also be completely worthy of becoming adopted but the shelters still euthanize these animals who cannot possibly...
Imagine being diagnosed with a disease that is going to kill you, but then you learn that you cannot do anything to avoid the pain it will cause you. The palliative care you will receive will only be able to provide slight comfort. You look at the options and consult with your physician, and decide physician-assisted suicide, or PAS, is what you want. Within the last two decades, the argument regarding physician-assisted suicide has grown. While some believe that death should be "natural", physician-assisted suicide helps the terminally ill maintain their dignity while dying. Physician assisted suicide should be a viable option for those diagnosed with a terminal illness. It provides a permanent relief to the pain and suffering that is involved
Animals are beloved creatures among the human race, and are deeply cared for. As caretakers of pets, those caretakers have a responsibility to these animals. One of those responsibilities includes making sure all animals are properly taken care of and are placed in a loving home. Many of these poor animals, mostly cats and dogs, are cast unwanted onto the streets to fend for themselves. Once they are cast out, where are they to end up? The ones that survive being discarded by neglectful owners are usually found and taken to a nearby animal shelter. These shelters are set up and designed for stray animals to be taken care of until a new owner can be found. Shelters also graciously accept pets from owners who choose to surrender their animals, and are re-homed by the shelter. Some of these shelters have what is known as a no-kill policy, which states that any animal fit to be adopted out, will be. Other shelters do not have this policy, and will euthanize a healthy animal for a variety of reasons. The most common reason for euthanizing a healthy animal is space. Most shelters are not well funded, and cannot afford to take care of a large number of animals; unfortunately, more animals are being discarded than are taken in by local shelters. Though most people would claim that killing animals to make space is wrong, there are actually many practical reasons for it; in most cases shelters that lack a no-kill policy are better for the animals in the long run.
Starvation, suffocation with a plastic bag, carbon monoxide and lethal doses of drugs are some way to die practiced by euthanasia. In definition, euthanasia is the option that some people choose to end his/her life when living becomes too unbearable for them. Tough Euthanasia is mostly asked by the person who wants to die; there are some cases where the person does not is even conscious of his/her death, such cases are typically seen with persons in the vegetative state. Some people do not agree with the practice of involuntary Euthanasia; they argue against this process labeling it as a crime. While opponents may think this is an action against the law because it takes away the life of someone without his/her consent, other people opt to consider
Death is not a concept that is well grasped or understood but we all know the cycle of life, we live and we die. We do not know how and we do not know when, our fate is laid out for us, we just learn to accept it because it is just how it goes. Some are lucky enough to live a healthy life with few to none complications and some find themselves fighting for their lives because of a terminating illness or severely injured from any type of accident. In an act of pain, torture, agony and knowing there is no hope for survival why can it not be you that has the upper hand in deciding when it is time to say goodbye.
Physicians Assisted Suicide An Argumentative Essay Physicians Assisted suicide is a topic many people are not fully informed about. Physician assisted suicide, or PAS for short, is when a physician can legally prescribe medicine for a patient to take in order to medically kill themselves. I believe that PAS should be talked more about in order for more people to understand how bad or grave it can be to a family and to our world. PAS falls underneath the umbrella of euthanasia. ?
Euthanasia, derived from the Greeks words eu and thanatos, literally means a good death (Holt, 2008, pp. 257). The intention of euthanasia is to provide terminally ill patients with the option of dying a dignified death; this is not a curtsey provided by many terminal illnesses, which are often accompanied by debilitating pain which often leave patients unable to care for themselves or participate in their own lives. “Respecting a patient’s autonomy is an important concept in the euthanasia debate.” (Holt, 2008, pp.268) there are two types of euthanasia: passive and active. Passive euthanasia is defined as withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment (Collier & Haliburton, 2015, pp.320) and is currently legal in Canada. Active euthanasia entails a deliberate action to end the life of the patient, and can be voluntary, none voluntary, or involuntary. Currently in Canada all forms of voluntary active euthanasia are
Physician -assisted suicide has been a conflict in the medical field since pre- Christian eras, and is an issue that has resurfaced in the twentieth century. People today are not aware of what the term physician assisted suicide means, and are opposed to listening to advocates’ perspectives. Individuals need to understand that problems do not go away by not choosing to face them. This paper’s perspective of assisted suicide is that it is an option to respect the dignity of patients, and only those with deathly illness are justified for this method.
Countless lives locked away in cages and forgotten about have overwhelmed our society, it has left blood stains on our history as a species and if history has taught us anything, it’s that we have a choice to change our ways of adjusting to situations. A war which was fought in pursuit of ending such criminal means, yet we as human beings do little to nothing to end the horrific crimes of animal deaths in shelters. It is no secret that this world has become infused with problems that have extended from one side of the globe to the other. Amongst these problems lies a terrible truth: nearly every year, sums of almost eight million cats and dogs have been placed in shelters around the world. Out of these vast numbers, half will be euthanized; that equals to one animal being put down every 8 seconds. Animals that are not adopted are kept in shelters until they find a home. Most of these shelters do not have enough space or resources to care for the animal. Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners. The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. Twenty-six percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, 20 to 30 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues, and 2 to 10 percent are purchased from pet shops. In addition, only 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. The 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 78 percent of dogs and 88 percent of cats are not spayed or neutered, in 2009 Statistics from animal shelters in 55 counties in WV (West Virginia) shows that nearly 54% of all animals entering shelters are euthanized, The euthanasia rates ranged from the lowest at 5% to the highe...
It is stated directly in the Hippocratic Oath, a promise made by every physician, “I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel” (Lasagna 1). Euthanasia is the practice in which physicians administer a lethal dose of drugs, commonly pentobarbital or sodium thiopental, to a patient. Patients either request this procedure, due to a terminal illness, or their family may request it if the patient is in a coma or is in a paralyzed state. Euthanasia dates back thousands of years, but recently, its ethics have been heavily debated. Since the year 2000, many patients with severe medical conditions and activist groups have fought for the right to not only refuse treatment, but to end one’s own life in order to bring
Have you ever wondered, how it feels to be in a place where is overcrowded, and you are next in line to be euthanize? This is the life of the shelter animal when no one adopts them for a certain period of time. According to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or known as ASPCA, each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized, which are 1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats. I am sure; most of you have some point in your life, owned a dog or a cat. Whether you are an animal lover or not, you don’t want to see innocent animals losing their lives. I personally have adopted a dog from a local shelter. There is no doubt that pet adoption from a shelter is a satisfying decision that will save innocent
When you hear the term euthanasia in reference to animals you think of the process that is used to end the suffering of an animal by putting them in a painless and permanent state of sleep. Today the term euthanasia is used to give reason to the murders of innocent animals all over the world. Animals should only be put down by euthanasia if they are in pain or suffering. Unfortunately most dogs that are euthanized over the course of the year are not aggressive or suffering from any disease (The Humane Society of the United States). Most of the animals are euthanized due to overpopulation in animal shelters. Euthanasia is a cruel and unnecessary practice that is not in the best interest for the animal.
Should a patient have the right to ask for a physician’s help to end his or her life? This question has raised great controversy for many years. The legalization of physician assisted suicide or active euthanasia is a complex issue and both sides have strong arguments. Supporters of active euthanasia often argue that active euthanasia is a good death, painless, quick, and ultimately is the patient’s choice. While it is understandable, though heart-rending, why a patient that is in severe pain and suffering that is incurable would choose euthanasia, it still does not outweigh the potential negative effects that the legalization of euthanasia may have. Active euthanasia should not be legalized because