Euthanasia Should Be Legal

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Euthanasia is a controversial issue. Many different opinions have been formed. From doctors and nurses to family members dealing with loved ones in the hospital, all of them have different ideas for the way they wish to die. However, there are many different issues affecting the legislation and beliefs of legalizing euthanasia. Taking the following aspects into mind, many may get a different understanding as to why legalization of euthanasia is necessary. Some of these include: misunderstanding of what euthanasia really is, doctors and nurses code of ethics, legal cases and laws, religious and personal beliefs, and economics in end-of-life care.

Across Europe palliative care is an intensifying and acknowledged part of healthcare. Palliative care is mostly known as an approach that aims to prevent or reduce suffering and hopelessness at the end of life. Using this information one may understand better as to what euthanasia is associated with. Many people are unable to form solid opinions and stances on the legalization of euthanasia due to their lack of information on the subject. According to the study conducted by the European Association of Palliative Care’s Ethics Task Force, euthanasia is killing on request and can be defined as a doctor intentionally killing a person by the administration of drugs, at that person’s voluntary and competent request.

There are two different types of euthanasia. Medicalized killing of a person without their consent, whether it is non-voluntary, where the person is unable to consent, or involuntary where it is against the will of the person, is not euthanasia, it is however, murder. This means that if euthanasia did occur it would have to be voluntary. The different types of euthanasia woul...

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