Terminal Illnesses Are Terminally Able To Die

“I'm not afraid of being dead. I'm just afraid of what I might have to go through to get there” -Pamela Bone (“Quotes About Euthanasia”). This quote shows how hard it can be to be able to die. Because patients with terminal illnesses are sick and can not be cured, Euthanasia is a good choice for patients. There are many types of Euthanasia like passive, active, voluntary, and involuntary. With many laws surrounding organ donation, it can be hard for patients that are terminally ill to donate organs.

Terminal illnesses have many phases that can be very life changing and cause many hardships for not only the patient but also his or her family and friends. Before a terminal illness is diagnosed, patients begin to recognize symptoms and may be

sick (source 5). After, then comes the acute phase of being terminally ill. The diagnosis is given, and the patients is caused to understand and take in the words they have heard and then choose their next steps medically (source 5).

Being a chronic terminally ill patient means moving into the middle phases and are starting to struggle with everyday life and have been receiving medical treatment (source 5). This can last up to several months. Recovery from being chronic can be a hard situation and is the time the patient must finally accept their disease and find a way to cope with it (source 5). The final step is the terminal phase at which death appears likely in the patient, and they are not helped with their disease but given palliative care to try to control the pain of the patient (source 5). In other words, the diagnosis can be the hardest thing for patients to deal with. It causes many families to make a change in the way they will go upon their days with someone who is terminally ill; it causes depression and suicidal thoughts for the patient (source 5). One patient expressed his or her feelings before they unfortunately passed away; “Dying is one of the hardest things I have done” (source 5). If a patient's will is to refuse treatment, that is perfectly fine; it

is the patient's choice on whether or not they want to stop treatment. This could also have to do with the patient's state of health; like if they are not going to get better even with treatment. Some patients have religious beliefs that they follow that state they must not receive treatment when sick and should rely fully on God to take care of them (source 8). Another choice for patients is palliative care. This helps the patient accept dying as a normal thing and receive relief from pain (source 8). These patients live their live as full as they can in their last months and are made as comfortable as possible (source 8). Terminal illnesses can be very life changing, and the many types of euthanasia can be very similar yet people take many different views on them.
There are many different types of euthanasia; some can be chosen by the patient and some chosen by the family; either way both are okay and the patient deserves what is best for them.

Passive is one type of euthanasia; when a medical professional does not do what it takes to keep the patient alive or stops the treatment that is keeping them alive, then that is passive (source 7). Active euthanasia is when a doctor ends all the pain of the patient by lethal injection (source 7). Many patients who are actively killed mostly are in so much pain and they can not take it anymore or they have been told they have seven days left to live. “Allowing someone to live in pain is a bigger evil than causing their death” (source 7). Stopping treatment to a patient is on purpose and so is deciding not to carry out on treatment. A doctor taking an action knowing it can result in death is the same as a doctor taking an action to intentionally cause death (source7). Both end out the same, pulling the plug on someone is the same as lethal injection. Voluntary euthanasia is done with consent of the patient and is legal in the United States in six states (source 8). Involuntary is done without consent and the decision is made by someone other than the patient (source 8). The real issue is that a patient should have freedom of their choice, and only that patient knows how much pain and suffering they are going through. Losing independence is said to be one of the hardest things and most people do

not know how much of an emotional toll being terminally ill can cause. Hospital space is limited as well; so why spend money and space on patients who want their suffering to be over? People are able to sign their dogs off to be put down; so why should this be taken from humans? No patient should ever have to experience a slow and painful death. Along with terminal illnesses and the different types of euthanasia, the rules of organ donation and the fines of euthanasia being performed without being legal consent are very high.
The rules and state laws of organ donation in the terminally ill can be very complicated and cause much stress for patients and families seeking euthanasia as a choice. Never has organ harvesting been done for patients who have been euthanized in the United States, but Netherlands and Belgium have taken up the challenge and been successful (source 9). The patient must be taken into prep and procedure just a few hours before their lethal injection to be able to harvest the organs correctly (source 9). The dead donor rule states that, organ donation should not cause or hasten death of a patient (source 9). Many with cancer have been told that their organs are of no good and can not be used to help and save others lives. It is said that thirty percent of terminally ill patients do not suffer from cancer, so they should be able to donate their organs if they wish (source 4). Signing off as a donor must be fully uncontroversial; meaning a family or patient can not be pressured to sign off for the donation of the patients organs (source 4). It is predicted that more people would not feel as bad about being euthanized and the family would be able to find rest in the donation of the patient’s organs. The states of Oregon and Vermont have some of the same laws regarding euthanasia; the doctor must be a doctor of medicine, a doctor of osteopathy, have a licensed in Oregon for the state of Oregon. For vermont the doctor must have a license in Washington, and finally the doctor must be willing to participate (source 10). In the state of Washington the procedure must be entirely voluntary and health care will not be provided for the medicines being given to the patient (source 10). California’s laws are a little more strict; the patient must have a mental screening to prove they are able to logically make the decision, they must be a resident of california being able to provide ID, they must give two oral request fifteen days apart, a written request must be provided to physician, and they must receive all three (source 10). Euthanasia is also legal in the states of Colorado and Montana was granted the right through court ruling (source 10). If someone goes against state's laws they could spend much time in jail and owe a reasonable fine (source 8). All things considered, terminal illnesses, different types of euthanasia, and organ donation along with euthanasia should be legal in all U.S. states.
In conclusion, euthanasia is a safe and non painful way for patients to die who have not much time to live and are in much sufferable pain. They able to end that pain and rest peacefully. Still terminal illnesses and life support can be life changing for patients, and the confusion with all the different types of euthanasia and the harvesting and donation of organs can be hard things that patients who are terminal have to go through. From here on, euthanasia should be legal and be a tactful choice for patient in much pain to be able to end that suffering.