Legalizing Euthanasia Essay - 881 Words

Today we struggle with the medical ethics on issues of life and death in a culture that denies the terminally and the infirm the right to maintain control over when to end their lives. They come to realize that at some level we are all dependent on others. From infancy to death, the cradle to the grave we rely on a number of people. One such person is our physician. In today’s society a physician is expected to be dedicated to the restoration of health, and the mending of the broken body. What happens when the body is past mending? Is euthanasia the answer? What do I believe? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Through discussions with my uncle, David Hollett M.D., and first hand observation of the suffering of loved ones close to death, I have†¦show more content†¦Possibly God’s will. In 1990, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that patients have a right to passive euthanasia if they have clearly made their wishes known. People can do so through living wills and by granting powers of attorney. A living will is a legal document addressed to a patients family and health care providers stating what type of treatment the patient wishes or does not wish to receive if he becomes terminally ill, unconscious, or permanently comatose (Mc Graw-Hill). A power of attorney is the legal right to act as the attorney or agent of another person, including handling that persons financial matters (Mc Graw-Hill). But what about active euthanasia? Currently only Oregon and the Netherlands have laws permitting physician-assisted suicide. There was little need to until Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a 70-year old retired pathologist from Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr.Kevorkian used â€Å"bully pulpit† to strongly advocate for allowing patients the right to decide when they no longer wished to live. . He challenged the legal system by openly admitted to giving assistance to patients with no possibility of any relief from their pain and suffering. He has admitted to extending help to 130 patients up to now (Naidu). Because the Michigan Supreme Court up held a lower court decision, it was ruled that the current law outlawing assisted suicide was constitutional. Dr. Kevorkian, also known as Dr. Death, wasShow MoreRelated Legalizing Euthanasia 2042 Words   |  9 PagesEuthanasia had become a big debate in our society and the world. Many people ask, what is Euthanasia? â€Å"Euthanasia is a deliberate intervention or omission with the expres s intention of hastening or ending and individual’s life, to relieve intractable pain or suffering† (Sanders Chaloner, 2007, p. 41). Thus the meaning of euthanasia is having the right to die if you are terminally ill, suffering and/or suffering a great amount of pain. Many people do not agree with the use of euthanasia, but ifRead MoreLegalizing Active Euthanasia953 Words   |  4 PagesEthics Euthanasia is the act of killing a patient who is undergoing a very serious painful disease that can’t be cured. The killing process involved does not involve any pain. There are different classification of euthanasia; involuntary and voluntary, non-voluntary, passive and active euthanasia. Active euthanasia refers to the painless killing of a patient using poison. It is done by administering any poisonous injection to the hopeless patient (Wennberg 175). People across the world, includingRead More Legalizing Euthanasia Essay2003 Words   |  9 PagesLegalizing Euthanasia Euthanasia is an arising moral contemporary issue. A brief definition of euthanasia would be the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies (Netherlands State Commission on Euthanasia). This may look like an only solution to many people whose lives are seemingly wasting away, or have been fully spent. Whether we should let such people die is an argument that is yet to mature. As sincere as this plea may sound, there areRead More Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesToday, voluntary euthanasia is getting closer to being legalized in more than just one state in the United States. â€Å"‘Voluntary’ euthanasia means that the act of putting the person to death is the end result of the person’s own free will† (Bender 19). â€Å" Voluntary euthanasia is an area worthy of our serious consideration, since it would allow patients who have exhausted all other reasonable options to choose death rather than continue suffering† (Bender 19). The question of whether or not voluntaryRead MoreEuthanasi The Issue Of Legalizing Euthanasia1662 Words   |  7 PagesLegalization of Euthanasia Ata Dogan Student Sheridan College Abstract This paper examines how countries around the world have dealt with euthanasia as an upcoming issue. Looking into the stances, arguments and opinions surrounding the issue of legalizing Euthanasia. It goes into detail about why citizens are requesting legalization and also reviews who are the people specifically that chose to be euthanized. Furthermore, it discusses the negative stance and the positive outcomes of this issue overRead MoreLegalizing Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide1885 Words   |  8 PagesEuthanasia is a subject most people wouldn’t touch at all. Any argument on this subject usually evolves into a series of complex, abstract questions about freedom of choice, morality and so on. There are many reasons to considering legalization of euthanasia/assisted-suicide, reasons that involve hard statistics, evidence and lived experience. Many will argue against euthanasia saying that it is irreversible. Arguing that once a person is gone that we’ll never know if they might have gone on to leadRead MoreEssay Argument For Legalizing Euthanasia2994 Words   |  12 Pages or die peacefully? For some, euthanasia is not an option, but for others it is a way to end their suffering and have a peaceful death. Although some view euthanasia to be morally wrong, voluntary euthanasia should be legalized in the United States to end the suffering of others, help patients who have the ability to live a longer life, and decrease the cost of health care. Euthanasia is an act of killing an incurable patient who is suffering or in pain. Euthanasia comes from a Greek expressionRead More Argumentative Paper: Legalizing Euthanasia1728 Words   |  7 Pagesdeath is a desired alternative to living in agony. Euthanasia has been a topic of debate since antiquity, and both sides stand firm on their beliefs. The right to choose death is illegal in most countries. I believe in people’s freedom to do what they please with their own bodies. The basic right of liberty is what America was founded on. Euthanasia should be a legal option. It’s important to start by understanding the different types of euthanasia. Allowing someone to die is, â€Å"Forgoing or withdrawingRead MoreThe Issue Of Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia1429 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Euthanasia refers to a practice whereby an act is intentionally carried out with the purpose inducing death . It is usually seen in light of inducing death to patients who are terminally ill or may not be terminally ill but are suffering from unbearable pain . The focus of this paper is on voluntary euthanasia, namely, euthanasia carried out upon the request of a patient deemed competent enough to make such decisions . This paper will argue the importance of legalising voluntary euthanasia toRead MoreEuthanasia Essay - Legalizing Physician Assisted Suicide2312 Words   |  10 PagesLegalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide in Australia First, it is essential to define euthanasia in order to resolve any misconceptions. Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma (Oxford dictionaries, 2014). It can be either passive or active however this essay will focus specifically on active euthanasia. Euthanasia is currently illegal in Australia, although it was briefly legal in the northern territory. This essay