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Ethical debates on euthanasia
The effects of physician assisted suicide
Importance of doctor assisted suicide
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Introduction Today, medical interventions have made it possible to save or prolong lives, but should the process of dying be left to nature? (Brogden, 2001). Phrases such as, “killing is always considered murder,” and “while life is present, so is hope” are not enough to contract with the present medical knowledge in the Canadian health care system, which is proficient of giving injured patients a chance to live, which in the past would not have been possible (Brogden, 2001). According to Brogden, a number of economic and ethical questions arise concerning the increasing elderly population. This is the reason why the Canadian society ought to endeavor to come to a decision on what is right and ethical when it comes to facing death. Uhlmann (1998) mentions that individuals’ attitudes towards euthanasia differ. From a utilitarianism point of view – holding that an action is judged as good or bad in relation to the consequence, outcome, or end result that is derived from it, and people choosing actions that will, in a given circumstance, increase the overall good (Lum, 2010) - euthanasia could become a means of health care cost containment, and also, with specific safeguards and in certain circumstances the taking of a human life is merciful and that all of us are entitled to end our lives when we see fit. What is Euthanasia? Euthanasia is one of the most recent and controversial debates today (Brogden, 2001). As per the Canadian Medical Association, euthanasia refers to the process of purposely and intentionally performing an act that is overtly anticipated to end the person’s life (CMA, 1998) There are two types of euthanasia; involuntary and voluntary euthanasia. Involuntary euthanasia is when the decision of the... ... middle of paper ... ... Association. 1998. “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.” Canadian Medical Association Board of Directors. Retrieved from http://www.cma.ca/index.php/ci_id/3214/la_id/1.htm on October 16th, 2010. Cicirelli, V.G. (1998). Views of the Elderly People Concerning End-of-Life Decisions. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 17(2), 186-203. “Clinic Gets Contract to Treat Canadian Patients.” 2000. Associated Press. Postrel, D. 1994. “State Could Cover Assisted Suicide.” Statesman-Journal. Ramabele, T. 2004. “Attitudes of the Elderly Towards Euthanasia: A Cross-cultural Study.” University of the Free State. Uhlmann, M. 1998. Last Rights: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Debated. New York: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Ward, PR. 1997. “Health Care Rationing: Can We Afford to Ignore Euthanasia?” Health Services Management Research: 10 (32-41)
Euthanasia is divided into two separate classifications consisting of passive euthanasia and active euthanasia. Traditionally, “euthanasia is passive when a physician allows her patient to die, by withholding or withdrawing vital treatment from him…euthanasia is active when a patient's death results from his physician's killing the patient, typically by administering lethal medication” (Varelius, 2016). While active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide share many of the same characteristics, they differ in the role for committing the final act, resulting in the death of the patient. A third party, consisting of either a family member or the physician, is responsible for “pulling-the-plug” in active euthanasia. On the other hand, in physician-assisted suicide, it is ultimately up to the patient to commit the final death-inducing act. Varelius suggests that the separation of passive and active euthanasia can be explained by the involvement that the physician partakes in their patients’ death
According to Gamliel (2012), euthanasia refers to actions or omissions that result in the death of a person who is already gravely ill. Techniques of active euthanasia range fro...
Euthanasia has been a long debated subject consisting of many opinions and believes. For this paper I will be providing my rationale on why I am for legalization of active voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill clients in Canada. Active voluntary euthanasia should be legalized because it respects the individual’s choice, it allows individuals to flourish in their passing, and reduces the individual from further suffering. These are all important components of bioethics, and are all good reasons why euthanasia is not a negative thing. Active voluntary euthanasia is “the active killing of a dying person” requested by the client themselves (Collier & Haliburton, 2011, p. 226). In the paper I will also be discussing about virtue ethics, the principle of autonomy, and care ethics.
Marker and Hamlon. “Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: Frequently Asked Questions.” International Task Force. 2009. .
Reflecting on Canada's view on euthanasia, a study was performed to ask the general population on how they felt about euthanasia and their opinion of euthanasia being illegal in Canada. Findings by Wilson et al., (2013) showed a majority of people believed that with properly followed guidelines, euthanasia should be legalized in Canada. This study found that although euthanasia is considered illegal in Canada, there were very few criminal convictions of people when following through with euthanasia. The general population felt that the process of euthanasia was monitored very well and that with appropriate steps it was not a big issue as it is perceived to be. Als...
Doctors become very powerful, when they can perform euthanasia on patients. In the Netherlands, there are a reported 4,000 cases of involuntary euthanasia, since 2012. This is disheartening because it is legal in this country. There are 900 cases a year reportedly in the United
As individuals with have the freedom to make autonomous decisions regarding our lives, our health, and the quality of life our life. I will begin by defining the types of active euthanasia. Next I present the premises for my argument, followed by possible criticisms for each premise. Lastly, I will address a counterargument to my argument and offer a reply. The goal of this paper is to make a compelling argument based on the principle of autonomy as to why voluntary active euthanasia should be legalized in Canada.
I am writing to you today with both the interests of the public, and my own interests, on the topic of Euthanasia becoming legalized in British Columbia. In a 2013 poll conducted by Life Canada the findings were that in British Columbia 63% of Canadians believed that Assisted Suicide be brought into place, and 55% believed that Euthanasia should take action, although some hesitated because of the numbers of non-consensual Euthanasia deaths in Belgium. Having Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide legalized would not only be able to help the terminally ill and physically disabled decide how they wish for their life to end, but the legalization would also save a lot of time, money, and resources in hospitals and palliative care facilities. Although some laws such as section 241 of the Criminal Code would need to be reviewed, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide could potentially end some people’s suffering, and save money and resources for the province.
Euthanasia in Canada should be legal in cases of patients suffering from terminal or chronic illness. Euthanasia falls under section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as a constitutional provision that protects an individual's autonomy and personal legal rights from actions of the government in Canada. As well as that, Canadian citizens reserve the right to die on their own terms, or, “die with dignity”. Finally, the addition of euthanasia to the end of life care program in Canada will not reduce the presence, nor the quality of other palliative care procedures.
Thus, despite the arguments against euthanasia, patients’ lives should not be deprived of well-being, comfort or dignity. “In the last stage of life, every person is entitled to a high standard of care and a stable environment in which his or her privacy is respected” (Policy Options, 2013). A lot of the time, patients with terminal illnesses are thought of as ‘better off dead’ or ‘not the person they used to be’. This is all the more the reason why euthanasia should be legalized in Canada. The government should relax current laws and allow doctors to participate in assisted suicide if need be and are willing. If people suffering with terminal illnesses want to die peacefully and not endure painful procedures or live off machines whilst also helping society out money wise, the option should be available.
Euthanasia - the termination of a person's life with the aim of getting rid of his pain and suffering with an incurable disease (Euthanasia).Currently adult euthanasia legalized in different forms in countries such as Colombia and Japan, as well as the U.S. states of Oregon, Vermont and Washington, and in some European countries: namely, Netherland and Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland(Belgium has taken the unprecedented law on child euthanasia).At this time, the topic of euthanasia is very relevant, as pass many debates on this subject and its resolution. The purpose of the essay is the estimation of the positive and negative aspects of euthanasia. The study will begin with comparing benefits and drawbacks of euthanasia.
Robert Matz; Daniel P. Sudmasy; Edward D. Pallegrino. "Euthanasia: Morals and Ethics." Archives of Internal Medicine 1999: p1815 Aug. 9, 1999 .
Williams, J. R., Lowy, F., & Sawyer, D. M. (1993). Canadian physicians and euthanasia: 3. Arguments and beliefs . Ethical Issues, 10, 1699-1702.
Euthanasia is a medical procedure which speeds up the process of dying for people with incurable, painful, or distressing diseases. The patient’s doctor can stop treatment and instead let them die from their illness. It come from the Greek words for 'good' and 'death', and is also called mercy killing. Euthanasia is illegal in most countries including the UK . If you suffer from an incurable disease, you cannot legally terminate your life. However, in a number of European countries it is possible to go to a clinic which will assist you to die gracefully under some very strict circumstances.
Pereira, J. “Legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide.” PMC. 19 June 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2014.