Euthanasia In Ancient Sparta

The use of euthanasia seems to go back to the dawn of civilization. People with terminal illnesses or debilitating deformities were often killed to both prevent them from becoming a burden on society as well as to end their suffering. In Ancient Sparta, it was common practice to check newborn boys for any signs of illness or deformity. If these were found, the boy would be killed. This process was regarded as a perfect method of protecting Spartan society from the burden of caring for the sick. In ancient Greece, the euthanasia of patients suffering from extremely painful terminal illnesses was made easy- a poisonous drink was given to those who requested it (“A General History of Euthanasia”).

However, even in ancient times, euthanasia was not without its opponents. One notable opponent of euthanasia, and suicide in general, was the

ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Believing that the gods had placed man as the protector of earthly life, he thought that it was immoral that man should take his life at will. Even the famous Hippocratic Oath was against euthanasia, stating “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I devise such a plan . . ..” This opposition towards euthanasia continued into and throughout the middle ages in Europe, with the Catholic church stating that euthanasia is immoral on the grounds that all life is infinitely valuable, and that it is a crime against God to take one’s own or another’s life (“A General History of Euthanasia”).
Today, however, this opposition has lessened greatly, as several countries, including Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands, have fully legalized euthanasia. Even countries that do not legally allow euthanasia, such as the United States, have allowed euthanasia in special court cases concerning the rights of patients who are suffering from incurable ailments, such as a permanent coma or when it is obvious that the patient cannot be saved and wishes to die (Rosner). However, despite this general increase of the acceptance of euthanasia, the debate over the use of euthanasia has still managed to split the opinions of both medical professionals and the general public.
First, there are the people who oppose euthanasia.

This opposition often stems from religious reasoning. For example, the majority of Christians, Muslims and Jews often oppose euthanasia on the grounds that it is strictly prohibited in their religions, as they believe that only God can choose how long a person will live, and that humans should not interfere with the process of dying (Naseh, Rafiei and Heidari). Along with religious opposition, many physicians and nurses base their opposition of euthanasia on the fear that patients, due to the fear of becoming a financial burden on their family, or even the effects of sickness, which often include depression and confusion, may request and accept euthanasia without realising the full consequences of such a procedure (Hurst and Mauron). Another cause for opposition towards euthanasia is the fear of a “slippery slope” situation, meaning that legalizing euthanasia could eventually lead to society’s acceptance of actions that are considered immoral in today’s society- the euthanasia of young children or enforcing euthanasia for those who did not request it, for example (Hurst and

Mauron).
In fact, one major reason for the opposition toward euthanasia- the excessive killing of patients who were able to be saved through proper medical treatment- seems to have become a reality where euthanasia is legal. In Belgium, a country where euthanasia has been completely legalized, many patients with completely treatable ailments often request euthanasia when it is clearly unnecessary. Indeed, euthanasia has become a sort of duty there, with physicians expected to unquestioningly oblige to patient’s requests. In Belgium, patients are even allowed to request euthanasia for reasons other than pain and disease. Depressed patients, rather than seeking counseling, often abuse their easy access to euthanasia to end their lives. In recent years, Belgium’s euthanasia has increased dramatically, with a near 27 percent increase in 2013 (Bruenig).