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Amelia Chromy
Mr. Edmund
English 4-Period 4
March 31, 2014
The Value of Life
Euthanasia, the intentional and direct killing of a patient by a physician or another party, most commonly done by useful lethal injections. Originally done to compassionately end pain or suffering. Imagine society where people live in constant fear for their lives. They would never live life to the fullest, or know what was coming in their future. Imagine life where hospitals do not treat people to save their lives, but kill people for their illnesses because someone determines whether their lives are worth living or not. Society argues that it is the right choice, but when put in the situation directly, it is much harder. Once a life is gone, it is gone. It is not a little decision to make. Literally a life changing choice. Society should accept people for their disabilities, and not dispose of them because they are too much of an inconvenience; therefore, euthanasia is wrong because a “slippery slope” or a rapid upcoming to even murder may happen, if legalized, each and every life is valuable, and euthanasia is an unnatural death.
If legalized, euthanasia may be on a “slippery slope” to murder or non-voluntary euthanasia. Many people are concerned that if euthanasia is legalized there will be even more big controversial topics legalized in the future. As of 2002, euthanasia became legal legal in the Netherlands, although performed regularly before that, without consequences. The doctors assumed the patients were in too much pain to live any longer. In the Netherlands, 25-30% euthanasia cases did not give consent. Jose Pereira, professor and Head of the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa says, “…about 900 people annually are adm...
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...r of Rights and Freedoms states that, “Everybody has the right to life, liberty, and the security of person.” By allowing euthanasia we are defying those basic rights to life. A persons right to life is now a persons right to die. One study shows that the majority of depressed elderly patients wanted to be euthanized, but no longer wanted to die after they got treatment. Euthanasia will provide death with dignity. A person should die knowing they are loved and their doctor did everything they could to keep them comfortable through the pain. Palliative care is the best for patients that want to die with dignity.
Euthanasia is wrong because a “slippery slope” or a rapid upcoming to even murder may happen, if legalized, each and every life is valuable, and euthanasia is an unnatural death. A patient should not be in fear that a doctor may be thinking about euthanasia
For example, if a person is in a coma and the family believes that they will not revive, then the family should allow the patient to die because the patient is basically dead already. Furthermore, if someone is in really bad pain, then they should be able to choose euthanasia because they are suffering a lot. They might not want to die because they acknowledge it would make their family member sad, but on the other hand they are hurting and can only think about is the pain. That is when I strongly agree with Hooker that people should be able to choose euthanasia and that being euthanised is for the best. In my opinion, having a law permitting euthanasia is good because it means that the person can take control of their own life. It would be up to them whether they want to be euthanised or not, in both good and bad conditions. Just having the option can be beneficial to some because it is like having the freedom to choose to live or die. Therefore, If I was sick, I would like to have a law that permits me to choose euthanasia, because I could decide whether it is the best decision for me or
In the end, it really all comes down to each of us as individuals who should be free to make our own choices on how we leave this world if we find ourselves in the unlucky fate of suffering through any form of debilitating illness. Our constitution gives us certain rights and freedoms as it relates to religion, speech, and our right to bear arms, so too should we have the right to die with the dignity we deserve by having a say in how we die when we can. That being said, with every right that is afforded comes great responsibility: As a society, we cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend that the issues that contribute to the great divide when it comes to sensitive topics like euthanasia will go away if we do nothing
Euthanasia or mercy killing should never be legalized. Euthanasia violates the divine, human, and medical laws. Moreover, it undermines the value of life, the value of each one’s earthly existence.
Our values, opinions and beliefs depend on what culture, religion and the society we come from. People who are against view euthanasia as murder and that we must respect the value of life. Those who are in favor of euthanasia believe that doing such act eliminates the patient’s pain and suffering. Also, the right to die allows the person to die with dignity. Euthanasia may involve taking a human’s life, but not all forms of killing are wrong nor consider as murder. It depends on the underlying reasons and intentions. If you value a person’s life and the cause of death is for the patient’s benefit and not one’s personal interest, then euthanasia is permissible.
Doctors prefer to never have to euthanize a patient. It is a contradiction of everything they have been taught for a doctor to euthanize someone, because a doctor’s job is to do everything in their power to keep the patient alive, not assist them in suicide. The majority of doctors who specialize in palliative care, a field focused on quality of life for patients with severe and terminal illnesses, think legalizing assisted suicide is very unnecessary. This is due to the fact that if patients do not kill themselves, they will end up dying on a ventilator in the hospital under the best possible care available, with people around them trying to keep them as comfortable as possible. Legalized euthanasia everywhere has been compared to going down a slippery slope. Officials believe that it could be done over excessively and the fear of assisted suicide numbers rising greatly is a great fear. This is why euthanasia is such a controversial subject worldwide. But, even though it is a very controversial subject, euthanasia is humane. Every doctor also has a say in whether or not they choose to euthanize a patient or not, leaving only the doctors who are willing to do this type of practice, for euthanizing patients. Medicine and drugs prescribed by a doctor for pain or suffering can not always help a person to the extent they desire, even with the help of doctors
The will of a patient who is very ill to wish death rather than continue to suffer and be in pain should be one’s own choice. Some people who struggle with life just feel more at peace knowing euthanasia is an option.However an advanced illness that causes pain that cannot be tolerated by the patient can be a liable reason for euthanasia . Many opponents who have been a part of assisted suicide have thought many patients are poor, very old, or mentally ill but surprisingly it’s the patients who are better educated and well-off who are wishing for death. After euthanasia was legalized in Belgium in 2002 there were 347 cases and in Switzerland they ranged from 300 to 350 a year but numbers continue to rise because people are traveling from countries where it...
to over turn the law. Also Kevin Andrews was strongly not in favour and with
Assisted suicide brings up one of the biggest moral debates currently circulating in America. Physician assisted suicide allows a patient to be informed, including counseling about and prescribing lethal doses of drugs, and allowed to decide, with the help of a doctor, to commit suicide. There are so many questions about assisted suicide and no clear answers. Should assisted suicide be allowed only for the terminally ill, or for everyone? What does it actually mean to assist in a suicide? What will the consequences of legalizing assisted suicide be? What protection will there be to protect innocent people? Is it (morally) right or wrong? Those who are considered “pro-death”, believe that being able to choose how one dies is one’s own right.
Euthanasia was an idea created in the mid 1800’s, when John Warren recommended the used of chloroform to hasten death and take away pain. By definition, it means good death. Even if a death was brought upon out of mercy from a physician, but nothing good didn’t came from it, it’s not consider to be euthanasia. The greater good and the lesser evil can be interpreted in different way, and what is the value in life and it’s relation to the definition of death can also vary. Consequently, countless debates and cases emerged, where the decision to whether or not kill the patient was situated. Who get to decide and is it morally permissible in the first place. This problem emerges from each individuals’ value on life and how they perceive death. People can perceived death as an ending to a suffering, and denying that choice is inhumane, or they can perceived it as an end to self, and you can’t just kill yourself because its convenience. There are a lot of grey areas that emerged from this debate, but a deep look inside the debate. We can see that how our personal belief on life and death dictate our opinion. The debates on euthanasia, an important issue that can govern the relationship between hospital and the community, are separated into two sections, one for and one against, both sided used their individual interpretation of life to argued their opinion on the debate and when taking a closer look, we can see how the view in death dictate their opinion on the issue and how that affect the laws implemented by their government.
Some say it is a crime, others say they are doing right. Doctors have a duty to help patients out as much as they can. People have the right to die and if they make the final decision that they do want to die, doctors should understand the patients decision and assist the needs and wants, concluding that euthanasia and physician assisted suicide should become legal in various areas of the world.
First of all, euthanasia saves money and resources. The amount of money for health care in each country, and the number of beds and doctors in each hospital are limited. It is a huge waste if we use those money and resources to lengthen the lives of those who have an incurable disease and want to die themselves rather than saving the lives of the ones with a curable ailment. When we put those patients who ask for euthanasia to death, then the waiting list for each hospital will shorten. Then, the health care money of each country, the hospital beds, and the energy of the doctors can be used on the ones who can be cured, and can get back to normal and able to continue contributing to the society. Isn’t this a better way of using money and resources rather than unnaturally extend those incurable people’s lives?
Over the years, euthanasia has gained popular scrutiny through the public. The debates over whether it should be legalized or illegalized, have divided individuals into two groups. Both battle for a complete legalization or extermination of assisted suicide. The proponents attest that euthanasia should be completely legal because an individual must have a dignified way of dying. However, there are those who like me, believe and can assert that it is still a form of homicide. In fact, the practice of euthanasia should be completely extinguished because it is medically unethical.
Euthanasia is the painless killing of a person who is suffering from a fatal illness. The meaning of the word Euthanasia comes from the Greek word Eu (good) and Thabatosis (death), which means “good death” Throughout history euthanasia has been practiced. The Jewish society however followed the Bible and the sixth command stated, “Thou shall not kill” Judaism considered their life to be sacred and considered Euthanasia to be murder. The Netherlands is the first country to legalize euthanasia, and since then it has become legal in five US states, but on February 5, 2016 euthanasia will be legal in Canada. Euthanasia can be a controversial topic if you legalize it then there is always a chance of doctors misusing it but it also lets people chose their own life. By legalizing euthanasia it allows people who are suffering away out.
Euthanasia is a controversial subject of debate globally due to its seeming intrusion of a person’s fundamental right to life. Allowing Australians access to euthanasia would give them the opportunity to alleviate prolonged suffering from terminal illnesses. For many, the expenses of medical care for terminally ill patients is extremely expensive and creates financial stress upon themselves and their family. While there is much extensive and thorough research and evidence as to why euthanasia should be legalised, many Australians do not have the same views. Although some believe euthanasia is morally wrong, Australians should have the right to decide for themselves.
People believe physicians should be able to aid in this process because they have valuable knowledge on how the body works, “… knowledge that can be used to kill or to cure” (Callahan 74). This argument contradicts the moral meaning of medicine. Indeed, the word "medical" comes from the Latin word “mederi,” which means "to heal." Medicine is understood to heal, cure, or comfort people, not kill. As a matter of fact, in the International Medical Code of Ethics and the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics fully states that the act of euthanasia violates their role and shall not be performed. Just because of the mere fact that physicians have the knowledge and medical equipment to kill does not indicate a physician should be permitted to perform euthanasia. Dan Brock states, “… permitting physicians to perform euthanasia, it is said, would be incompatible with their fundamental moral and professional commitment as healers to care for patients and to protect life” (77). Dan Brock also raises the question, if euthanasia became a common practice that was performed by physicians, would we eventually fear or lose trust in our physicians?