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Arguments against legalising euthanasia
Contemporary debate over euthanasia
Arguments against legalising euthanasia
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Legalizing Euthanasia "Whose life is it, anyway?" A Plea stated by the late Sue Rodrigues. Rogrigues, a high-profile, terminally-ill resident of British Columbia, Canada, suffered from a terminally ill disease (Robinson, 2001). She was helped to commit suicide by a physician in violation of Canadian law. Many people, like Rodrigues, want to be in control of their final days. Terminally ill patients have a terminal disease and do not want to diminish their assets by incurring large medical costs as their death approaches (Robinson, 2001). As an act of generosity, they would rather die sooner, and pass on their assets to their beneficiaries. A serious disorder or disease has adversely affected their quality of life to the point where they no longer wish to continue living (Johansen, 2000). Myself, along with many other United States citizens believe that euthanasia should be legalized within the United States for reasons concerning medical advances, the severity of pain a person is in once diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the basic fact that a person’s life is their own life and no one else’s. Defenders in personal liberties argue that all people are morally entitled to end their lives when we feel it to be necessary (Johansen, 2000). Jay Johansen states in his article “Euthanasia: A Case of Individual Liberty?”, “Rather than endure great pain and suffering for the remainder of their lives, ill patients should have the ethical choice to choose to end their [suffering]” (Johansen, 2000). Samia Hurst in her article “Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia” affirms, “Some patients may request euthanasia to avoid the weakness and loss of mental failures that some diseases cause, and many people feel that the wisher shou... ... middle of paper ... ...ncluding the right to participate in assisted suicide. There are many issues concerning euthanasia, however, the three main issues that I feel are important when discussing the legalization of euthanasia are because of medical advances, the severity of pain a person is in once diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the basic fact that a person’s life is their own life and no one else’s. A physician should be allowed to participate in a patient’s death in a compassionate, confidential manner. A physician can provide the most peaceful, least painful and effective means to die. No human being should have to suffer with a terminal illness when an alternate course of action is available, such as euthanasia. No person has the right to take away a freedom given to another without just cause; therefore, who is to say that we cannot pursue the benefits of euthanasia.
killing and letting die. Some argue that letting die, which is the action considered to take
There are several important ethical issues related to euthanasia. One is allowing people who are terminally ill and suffering the right to choose death. Should these people continue to suffer even though they really are ba...
She goes on to tell readers of a child's perception of race with other life examples that she learned from her own students. She states that children learn prejudices and stereotypes early on in life from cartoons, story books and their own parents. They are easily susceptible these things even if th...
In the modern day television series Teen Wolf, the main protagonist Scott McCall goes through a process of personal growth that falls in line with Joseph Campbell’s outline of a hero’s journey. The hero's journey, or monomyth, is the sequence of events or situations that cause a transformation within a character, taking them from their ordinary life and placing them at the pinnacle of extraordinary life. Chris Vogler, a contemporary of Joseph Campbell, says, “. . .[the hero's journey] is as infinitely varied as the human race itself; and yet its basic form remains the same. . .” There is always a departure, an initiation, and a return. The departure includes the first five stages of the journey: introduction of the character in their ordinary life, the character's call to adventure, refusal of the call (by the character or one of their associates), the character's meeting with a mentor (who will guide them throughout the journey), and crossing the first threshold from the ordinary world to the special world. The initiation includes the next four stages: tests of the character and introduction of enemies/allies, approaching the place of paramount importance, the supreme ordeal (usually in the face of death), and the seizing of the sword or the character's reward. The return is made up of the last three stages: the road back (wherein the character leaves the special world for their normal life), the resurrection or transformation caused by events past, and- finally- the return with the elixir or arrival home with some sort of treasure or boon to mankind. Scott McCall, like all characters on the journey, goes through these same phases. In accordance with many other famous journeys, his has more influence of the supernatural nature.
The right to assisted suicide is a significant topic that concerns people all over the United States. The debates go back and forth about whether a dying patient has the right to die with the assistance of a physician. Some are against it because of religious and moral reasons. Others are for it because of their compassion and respect for the dying. Physicians are also divided on the issue. They differ where they place the line that separates relief from dying--and killing. For many the main concern with assisted suicide lies with the competence of the terminally ill. Many terminally ill patients who are in the final stages of their lives have requested doctors to aid them in exercising active euthanasia. It is sad to realize that these people are in great agony and that to them the only hope of bringing that agony to a halt is through assisted suicide.When people see the word euthanasia, they see the meaning of the word in two different lights. Euthanasia for some carries a negative connotation; it is the same as murder. For others, however, euthanasia is the act of putting someone to death painlessly, or allowing a person suffering from an incurable and painful disease or condition to die by withholding extreme medical measures. But after studying both sides of the issue, a compassionate individual must conclude that competent terminal patients should be given the right to assisted suicide in order to end their suffering, reduce the damaging financial effects of hospital care on their families, and preserve the individual right of people to determine their own fate.
Thesis: At the moment, there is no definitive answer to the question of nature vs. nurture, there is, however, compelling evidence that the theory of Nature via. Nurture could be the solution.
Physician-assisted suicide should be a legal option, if requested, for terminally ill patients. For decades the question has been asked and a clear answer has yet to surface. It was formed out of a profound commitment to the idea that personal end-of-life decisions should be made solely between a patient and a physician. Can someone's life be put into an answer? Shouldn't someone's decision in life be just that; their decision? When someone has suffered from a car accident, or battled long enough from cancer, shouldn't the option be available? Assisted suicide shouldn't be seen as cheating death, but as a way to pay homage to the life once lived. As far as including the mentally challenged in this equation, I am against it. The mentally challenged, although less likely to grasp information, still has the physical awareness to grow. It can be subdued with medicine and psychotherapy. From personal experience I am a witness of being around mentally challenged adults who love life regardless of their conditions. Most don't have the ability to express a request such as life or death. Living life is a daily task just like it is for healthy citizens. Most if not all mentally challenged people aren't in any pain throughout their entire life. For this they shouldn't be targeted for assisted suicide. Death is an occurrence in life, whether it's unexpected or expected, it can't be cheated nor can it be avoided. The terminally ill should have the option to end their suffering with dignity.
Physicians may feel euthanasia could be a merciful way to alleviate the pain and suffering of terminally ill patients and could provide an alternate method of treatment for end stage diseases. Society may view euthanasia as a way in which pain and suffering can be ended humanly for persons who are terminally ill. Bringing solace and peace to the terminally ill is something society should reflect upon and remember that one day they may find their family member or themselves facing this dilemma. Responding to this issue in a positive manner, and by agreeing upon the legalization of euthanasia, society sends a clear message to all people that their lives matter and if one chooses euthanasia, it is their legal right to do so. Legalizing euthanasia would spare families the agony of watching a loved one pass away in less than a dignified manner. Terminally ill people do not want to burden their families with the financial burden that is left when one departs this life, euthanasia could lessen that burden. Euthanasia would provide for a more dignified way to end one’s life when faced with the prospect of prolonged pain and suffering. People should have the right to decide when and how they are going to die, and everyone should have the right to make this decision based on their own personal morals and beliefs. By enacting laws and regulations a person’s rights
As patients come closer to the end of their lives, certain organs stop performing as well as they use to. People are unable to do simple tasks like putting on clothes, going to the restroom without assistance, eat on our own, and sometimes even breathe without the help of a machine. Needing to depend on someone for everything suddenly brings feelings of helplessness much like an infant feels. It is easy to see why some patients with terminal illnesses would seek any type of relief from this hardship, even if that relief is suicide. Euthanasia or assisted suicide is where a physician would give a patient an aid in dying. “Assisted suicide is a controversial medical and ethical issue based on the question of whether, in certain situations, Medical practioners should be allowed to help patients actively determine the time and circumstances of their death” (Lee). “Arguments for and against assisted suicide (sometimes called the “right to die” debate) are complicated by the fact that they come from very many different points of view: medical issues, ethical issues, legal issues, religious issues, and social issues all play a part in shaping people’s opinions on the subject” (Lee). Euthanasia should not be legalized because it is considered murder, it goes against physicians’ Hippocratic Oath, violates the Controlled
Nature versus nurture is one of the oldest and most studied debates in the history of psychology. This debate is about an individual’s genetic influences as opposed to the environmental influences on physical characteristics and intelligence (Rathus 197). Some think that genes determine an individual’s development and others think that it comes from how one was raised. My development was influenced by nature and nurture equally because I would not be myself if I did not get my ambition from my mother and my manners from my upbringing.
Green roofs are an attractive sustainable technology, especially in densely developed urban area like Penn. One of the most significant environmental challenges facing Philadelphia is pollution of its rivers. Like many of America's older cities, Philadelphia has a combined sewer/stormwater system, in which underground sewer pipes also carry away excess stormwater after a rainfall. During significant rain events, excess stormwater from city roofs, roads and parking lots can overwhelm the sewage treatment plants, resulting in untreated sewage being washed directly into the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers. Since a good portion of the city is comprised of rooftops, one of the key strategies to reducing stormwater runoff is using green roofs to slow the passage of rainwater into the sewer system. Yet, uncertainty remains regarding their benefit in reducing an attenuating roof water runoff.
Wilmeth, M. (2008, October 1). Green Roof Study Finds Big Variation in Stormwater Retention - EBN: 17:10 . BuildingGreen.com . Retrieved December 1, 2010, from http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm/2008/9/25/Green-Roof-Study-Finds-Big-Variation-in-Stormwater-Retention/
More than likely, a good majority of people have heard about euthanasia at least once in their lifetime. For those out there who have been living under a rock their entire lives, euthanasia “is generally understood to mean the bringing about of a good death – ‘mercy killing’, where one person, ‘A’, ends the life of another person, ‘B’, for the sake of ‘B’.” (Kuhse 294). There are people who believe this is a completely logical scenario that should be allowed, and there are others that oppose this view. For the purpose of this essay, I will be defending those who are suffering from euthanasia.
Other than physical traits genetics and the environment help develop reasoning, planning, part of speech, movement, emotions and problem solving. In a study done at Georgia State University, their study of how capuchin monkeys are affected by social condition is a great example of how nature and nurture work best together. A quote from the study write up reads, “Thus, perception and decision making in a quantity judgment task appear to be insulated from any negative effects of a more competitiv...
Lastly, I support the idea of legalizing euthanasia because the patients own their bodies, and they can do anything with it. Even though the doctor is the one who put the patient to death in a process of euthanasia, the patient is the one who makes the decision to be “killed”, and therefore, euthanasia is a type of physician-assisted suicide, which is not any of other people business.