Everyone Has a Right to Choose Euthanasia

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Everyone Has a Right to Choose Euthanasia

Everybody faces death eventually. While some people abhor the impending experience, others may await it excitedly. Regardless of one's expectations, most people do not wish for a painful end. If a situation arises where one must make a decision concerning approaching death or the death of loved ones, most people would hope for the least possible suffering. While a decision like this is extremely difficult to make, many people choose death as opposed to living in agony. However, others think that euthanasia is reprehensible no matter what the circumstances are. Author Cheryl Eckstein believes, "Killing in the name of compassion and mercy is wrong" ("Can there ever", par. 9). Homicide and suicide are generally not considered fair or sensible, but sometimes, however, they are carried out as acts of kindness and love. Thus, in certain situations, euthanasia may not be morally wrong.

Eckstein states, "No person is entitled to have death inflicted upon him" ("Can There Ever", par. 11). However, if a person chooses death in order to prevent prolonged pain and misery, it is being self inflicted, and should not be denied in certain situations. People facing death should have a say in what happens to them. If a person is not physically or mentally able to make this decision, it seems most considerate that their loved ones should be able to aid in this process. If someone's remaining days are being spent in agony, shouldn't others attempt to fulfill their last wishes? On the other hand, Colleen McCullough says, "While there's life, there's hope" (Why I Oppose, par. 15). However, a drastically ailing being who is forced to keep living undesirably probably has limited hope. The hope they s...

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...y final days include lying in a hospital bed with no hope for a physical recovery, I would like to be able to act on my own wishes, and not be forced to live any longer if my body is telling me that it cannot continue.

Works Cited

Eckstein, Cheryl. "Can There Ever Be A 'Right To Be Killed'?" Citizen 25 July. 1995. http://www.awinc.com/partners/bc/commpass/lifenet/canthere.htm (27 Feb. 1997)

McCullough, Colleen. "Why I Oppose Euthanasia." The Weekend Australian 16-17 Mar. 1996. http://www.ucaqld.com.au/trendz/3ethics/oppose.htm (27 Feb. 1997)

Pankratz, Robert C., and Richard M. Welsh. "A Christian Response to Euthanasia." part 1. http://www. tkc.com/uturn/euthan.html (27 Feb. 1997)

Pankratz, Robert C., and Richard M. Welsh. "A Christian Response to Euthanasia." part 2. http://www. tkc.com/uturn/ten/euthan2.html (27 Feb. 1997)

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