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Moral ethical issues on euthanasia
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Euthanasia or mercy killing is ending the life of a patient who is very ill or injured. It is a topic that has been debated by many people. In many countries it is illegal to perform euthanasia, however, the province of Quebec has recently legalized Euthanasia. The Government of Canada is currently considering legalizing it. If euthanasia becomes authorized, many people will also distressed. The Government of Canada should not consider legalizing euthanasia because it violates medical ethics, it ignores religious beliefs, and patients under stress might make irrational decisions.
Firstly, The Government of Canada should not consider legalizing euthanasia because the very principles of medical ethics are ignored. There are many medical principles
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Many of the testaments in the bible refuse suicide and murder. Since 67% of the Canadian population claims to worship God, Most Canadians know that murder is forbidden in the bible. Exodus 20:13 states “You shall not murder”, Matthew 5:21 states “You have heard that it was said to people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.’, and Psalm 31:15 states “God is the only one who is to decide when and how a person should die. We should say with the psalmist, “My times are in your hands” These quotes from the bible states that suicide is equal to murder and it will be punished. Thus, religious beliefs is another reason that The Government of Canada should not legalize …show more content…
The patient might not be in the state of mind where they can make a clear and sensible decision. Some things that cause people to come to an unreasonable conclusion are mental complications, such as depression. Depression can lead to individuals wanting to commit suicide because they feel hopeless. If these individuals are seen as fit to make a life changing decision, they could take advantage of the availability of euthanasia. In addition, bias from the patient’s doctor could also persuade the patient to choose euthanasia, since the only source of medical information is from their doctor. The European Scientific Journal states that “ Recent studies have reported that about 70% of actual decisions to end a life by euthanasia have been hasty and irrational, and contrary to general perceptions, depression and loneliness rather than pain and suffering seem to be the primary factors motivating patients' interest in euthanasia. Also patients can be strongly influenced by doctors as the sole source of their information about illness, prognosis and possible interventions, so despair can easily be communicated to both the patient and family by a doctor expressing pessimism about a prognosis.” Therefore, euthanasia should not be legalized because of both mental complications and doctor bias.
The Government of Canada should not consider legalizing euthanasia because it violates medical ethics, it ignores
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...
According to Longman dictionary euthanasia means “the deliberate killing of a person who is very ill ‘(terminal illness)’ and going to die, in order to stop them suffering.” There are two different types of euthanasia; active and passive. Euthanasia is legalized in some parts of the world like Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Oregon, Montana and Washington. Euthanasia should not be legalized in Canada because it is not lawful, ethical, and violates Canada’s respect for every religion.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is one of the guiding moral documents of Canada, which states, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982) In the opinion of the Supreme Court, current law infringes upon section 7 and this means that the ban on assisted suicide unjustly and immorally denies the human right to life and liberty and therefore, it is immoral to ban physician-assisted suicide outright. Law and ethics are closely related and often what is legal is ethical and what is illegal is unethical. (American Medical Association, 1994) Denying a mentally competent and terminally ill patient the right to a quick, painless and dignified death would be blatantly disregarding the foundational medical principal of autonomy. This would also make sense from a libertarian standpoint, as the person would be able to live their life the way that they want to with almost no harm to others. Research shows that doctors often agree with physician-assisted suicide and believe it is the moral choice especially in cases where the patient is terminally ill and has no treatment options
Another reason a patient may opt to euthanasia is to die with dignity. The patient, fully aware of the state he or she is in, should be able choose to die in all their senses as opposed to through natural course. A patient with an enlarged brain tumor can choose to die respectively, instead of attempting a risky surgery that could leave the patient in a worse condition then before the operation, possibly brain-dead. Or a patient with early signs of Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may wish to be granted euthanization before their disease progresses and causes detrimental loss of sentimental memories. Ultimately it should be the patient’s choice to undergo a risky surgery or bite the bullet, and laws prohibiting euthanasia should not limit the patient’s options.
...governmental and religious bodies. Look at same sex marriages, abortion and even women’s rights. What do these all have in common? Issues directly effecting Canadians once viewed as and in some cases still viewed as wrong by our government and religious bodies. The majority of Canadians are in favour of euthanasia; in Quebec it is becoming legal. This only further proves the numerous advantages that are offered with the legalization of euthanasia. Groups opposed to the use of euthanasia like the Christian Legal Fellowship, only seek to further their own agenda and many other activists are misinformed. The arguments against euthanasia are often invalid, as more studies continue and information becomes available a lot of myths are being debunked. The legalization of euthanasia will place the control of our lives back into the hands of the individuals they affect.
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
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
Older Canadians are susceptible to forms of chronic, terminal illness such as ALS and cancer. Consequently, government spending on health care costs related to sustaining the life expectancy of those in a palliative condition are expected to rise due to the aging demographics and unhealthy lifestyles of contemporary Canadians which will result in further strain on other Canadian social issues in need of government funding. Moreover, some individuals suffering from terminal illness may wish to seek assisted suicide which remains illegal in Canada pending what will be a landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling in the near future (Brean, 2015). Should the Supreme Court rule that present assisted suicide laws are unconstitutional, some Canadians may choose this option; as a result, the costs associated with providing palliative care and the legal status of euthanasia represent another link between the Canadian health care economic crisis and
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)
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 has been an ongoing debate for many years. Everyone has an opinion on why euthanasia should or should not be allowed but, it is as simple as having the choice to die with dignity. If a patient wishes to end his or her life before a disease takes away their quality of life, then the patient should have the option of euthanasia. Although, American society considers euthanasia to be morally wrong euthanasia should be considered respecting a loved one’s wishes. To understand euthanasia, it is important to know the rights humans have at the end of life, that there are acts of passive euthanasia already in practice, and the beneficial aspects.
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide has been a hot topic of debate for quite some time now. Some believe it to be immoral, while others see nothing wrong with it what so ever. Regardless what anyone believes, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should become legal for physicians and patients. Death is a personal situation in life. By government not allowing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide they are interfering and violating patient’s personal freedom and human rights! Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have the power to save the lives of family members and other ill patients. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should become legal however, there should be strict rules and guidelines to follow and carry out by both the patient and physician. If suicide isn’t a crime why should euthanasia and assisted suicide? Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should be legal and the government should not be permitted to interfere with death.
Euthanasia is the process of killing a patient with the intention of relieving their suffering and pain. It is also commonly known as mercy killing, and many often do not agree with it most especially in cases where a terminal illness is not inclusive. While euthanasia has been legalized in certain states in the United States such as Oregon, a lot of opposition has arisen as to whom so legible to receiving this treatment.
Now those doctors can prolong life for people who are terminally ill, suffering or just elderly, by using certain machines, euthanasia has become a big debate. With many groups for euthanasia, such as pro-euthanasia and the right-to-die, are debating that euthanasia be legalized. With all these different view towards euthanasia, should North American consider changing its law to legalize it? Euthanasia in North American should be legalized because it goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights. The doctors should have the right to decide when to terminate a life. The patients should have a part in their own death. Last, a few countries already agree with euthanasia.
Each form of euthanasia also has a set of arguments that accompany them. Some of the common pro euthanasia arguments are the right choice. The patient should be able to be given the option to make the decision to die and to do with dignity. The quality of life argument is another. This is when only the patient knows what it is like to have persistent unstoppable suffering, and pain. Even with pain relievers it is not enough. With the pro arguments comes the cons. The most common cons are guilty, slippery slope to murder, competence, and what the doctor’s role is in all of