Ethanasia: A Good Death

Euthanasia is term that would appear to mean very different things to different people. If a horse breaks its leg or a dog gets cancer, it is considered kind, and humane to euthanize said animal. However, if one suggests euthanasia of a person, he polarizers a room. The issue becomes mercy versus murder, ending suffering versus playing God, life versus death. The question is then who is right, who is wrong, and where does the line blur.

Perhaps first we should look at how the room would lay out. A Gallup survey found in May, 2013, that a majority of americans are in favor of euthanasia. Oddly enough, when the question is stated, “When a person has a disease that cannot be cured, do you think doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient’s life by some painless means if the patient and his or her family request it”, 70% of people were in favor of it. However, when the question was stated,”When a person has a disease that cannot be cured and is living in severe pain, do you think doctors should or should not be allowed by law to assist the patient to commit suicide if the patient requests it,” the Majority dropped dramatically to 51% in favor. Though the difference in meaning is not apparent, the way the question comes across is very different: “...ending a patient’s life by some painless means…” sounds much softer and more comforting than “... assist the patient to commit suicide.” The odd results may also be attributed to the fact that in the second question the family is not nessicarily involved in the process (Saad 1). But more important than the samantics is that a majority of americans are, in both cases, supportive of euthanasia/ Physicain-Assisted suicide.

Another good thing to know is what exactly what the word means...

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...Ethics of Euthanasia. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. 46-63. Print.

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Menzel, Paul, and Bonnie Steinbock. "Advanced Directives, Dementia, and Physician-Assisted Death." Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics. (2013): 484-498. Print.

Rifkin, Arthur. "Euthanasia Can Be Ethical." Trans. Array The Ethics of Euthanasia. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. 9-12. Print.

Terry, Peter, and Karen Korzick. "Patients' Wishes Regarding Euthanasia Should Be Respected." Trans. Array The Ethics of Euthanasia. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. 21-26. Print.