Should Euthanasia be Legalized in the United States?

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Recommended: Ethical conflicts about voluntary and non voluntary euthanasia

In the United States, euthanasia should be legalized. In the year of 1992, Chris Docker wrote about an elderly woman going through the last painful stages of her life. Docker shared that “Mrs. Boyes' was so ill that she "screamed like a dog" if anyone touched her… when she repeatedly requested to die, Dr. Cox finally gave her an injection of potassium chloride, bestowing on her the boon of a peaceful death so many of us feel we are entitled to” (Docker). This unfortunate situation is presented to many doctors across the US. With euthanasia currently being illegal, they cannot provide proper care for their patients. Euthanasia can spare many people of their undesirable agony they face close to their passing. Too many people are suffering from a terminal illness and wanting to be put out of their misery; therefore, euthanasia should be made legal and enforced nationwide. Euthanasia dates back to the first century B.C. with the ancient Romans and Greeks. Euthanasia received its meaning from the Greek word euthanatos meaning good or well death. The idea of euthanasia came before Christianity and the value of individual human rights. In first century B.C. the Greeks and Romans had a “widespread support for voluntary death as opposed to prolonged agony, and physicians complied by often giving their patients the poisons they requested” (Dowbiggin). It was not until thirteenth century B.C. when Christianity was in full swing. The upbringing of Christianity placed euthanasia under the spot light. Many strict followers of Christianity and Judaism believed that human life is a responsibility of God; not to be put in the hands of a doctor. It was not until mid-seventeenth century when reformation of the church began. Reformation brought upo... ... middle of paper ... ...ial to millions nationwide. Works cited Magnay, Diana, and Bryony Jones. "Parents Plead to Be Able to Help Terminally Ill Children Die." CNN. Cable News Network, 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2014 Docker, Chris. "Euthanasia, Right to Die: Cases." Euthanasia, Right to Die: Cases. N.p., 2000. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. "Anti- Euthanasia Aguments." Http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics. British Broadcasting Corporation, 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014 Dowbiggin, I. R. 2003. A merciful end. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press Glied, Sherry. "Healthcare Crisis: Whos at Risk." Pbs.org. Public Broadcasting Service, 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. "Health Care Collection Statistics." Acainternational.org. ACA International, 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Vacco v. Quill. Supreme Court of the United States. 26 June 1997. ACLU Amicus Brief in Vacco v. Quill. Cornell College, 2002. Web. 31 Mar. 2014

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