The Pros And Cons Of Euthanasia

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Yolanda Marshall Ms. Park Research Paper English 12 5 May 2014 Write to die? On March 31,2005, Terri Schiavo passed away. She had a heart attack in 1990 that left her in an almost vegetative state. She had little to no brain activity and was kept alive by a feeding tube for over 14 years. Her husband eventually started a campaign for her to die in 1997. He was fighting for her right to die. Her feeding tube was finally removed on March 18, 2005 and she literally starved to death. Although Schiaivo did not have a terminal illness or unbearable pain, she still suffered in a vegetative state for over 14 years.(time.com) At what point will we say enough is enough? That everyone needs the option of a quick and peaceful death to minimize suffering no matter what the reason may be. Oregon, Washington, Montana, and certain places in Texas are currently the only states in the United States that are not letting people suffer. They are the only places where euthanasia is legal. Over the course of this paper, I will give a brief history, background, and address many of the arguments that are opposed to and for euthanasia. These arguments include causation, omission, legal issues, the physicians involved, the slippery slope that might potentially be created, autonomy rights, and Christianity. The debate over euthanasia started long ago. It is believed by many that euthanasia started in ancient Greece and Rome around the fifth century B.C. They did this by abortions and sometimes but still rarely performed a mercy killing on an individual that they knew had an incurable disease. They had no technology to keep a person alive by a venihaltor for years. So of course maybe that made it substantially easier. (Medical Care vol.46 , No.12) ... ... middle of paper ... ...nd want to die.’ “So I killed him, for I knew he couldn’t live.” This is a form of active euthanasia used in the bible.(NLT Bible) (faithfacts.org) Still for the most part Christians believe that God created life and there is sanctity within it. Christians believe that no one really has the power over his day of death. People really have as much of the choice they did in beginning their life as they have in ending it. God is the master of life and no one should interfere with his will.(faithfacts.org) Euthanasia will forever be a highly sensitive and controversial topic in the world we live in and who knows what will really happen in the future. The same question of ‘is the quality of life or the quantity of life more important?’ will still remain. While pondering on the legalization of euthanasia you will have to decide has the gift of life become a punishment?

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