Argumentative Essay On Euthanasia

Is there a real moral difference between killing and letting die? It seems inevitable that killing someone is far worse than letting them die. We often let people die without truly realizing the impact we are having. For example, if you fail to give blood (due to moral reasons, medical reasons, or whatever it may be), you are potentially letting someone die that may be in dire need of blood. Now, it is your right to choose not to donate blood, I am not going to argue that, but say our duty to aid others is more vital than we naturally assume. If that is the case, then how do our views affect matters such as euthanasia and assisted suicide? Many people believe that euthanasia is permissible (since it allows a terminally ill patient control on when they die and it does not pointlessly prolong their suffering), but at the same time believe killing patients is impermissible. It is argued that in passive euthanasia, the cause of death is the underlying disease, but in active euthanasia it is the physician. That is why active euthanasia is said to be worse. Personally, I find killing far worse than letting die. ADD THESIS

Kathleen Carter was eighty-nine years old when she traveled to Switzerland in order to end her suffering. Kathleen suffered from spinal stenosis, a paralyzing disease that causes severe pain, weakness and numbness. Euthanasia is legal in Switzerland which is where she traveled with her family to stay in an apartment like room; she spent her final day saying goodbye them. She first was given a sedative to settle her nervousness then shortly after, while sitting on the couch with family, she drank a sodium pentobarbital solution, which ended her pain and suffering. Kathleen is a prime example as to why euthanasia should be legalized. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek for "the good death" and refers to ending one's life on compassionate grounds. The term today comes with its controversies such as people should have the right to choose their own death, but also throughout history it has been morally incorrect to kill, or assist in killing, another human being.

Life begins from the time we are born to the day we die. Life is believed to have “intrinsic value”, that to live is to better than not to live. This may be true for those leading happy and fulfilling lives, but that is a small fraction of the population. Another larger section of the population is diagnosed with diseases and illnesses every day, unable to move or breathe on their own. This severely impacts their perspective on life and what it means to be alive. While we are granted the right to life by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the right to die seems to be controversial.

Assisted suicide is a controversial topic that has been debated many times. Some people believe that assisted suicide should not take place at all. Other people believe that suicide should be assisted by a physician in a medical setting. There are also people who believe that suicide should be assisted outside of a medical setting completely and even offered commercially. There are many issues and concerns when deciding if helping someone die is wrong, and then if it is not wrong then, how should it occur? How should a person’s qualification for suicide assistance be determined? Is this assistance only for terminally ill patients? All arguments are worth debating, but there is one argument that should not be a topic of debate and that is the physician-assisted suicides. Many people support euthanasia, but the physician should not be involved. Physician-assisted suicide violates the physicians’ Hippocratic Oath, gives too much power to the physicians, and involves physicians in suicides for reasons other than terminal illness.

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson was essentially stating that each individual show be able to decide what they do with their lives and these decisions shouldn’t shouldn’t be defined arbitrarily by other humans. If such a statement can be included within the United States Declaration of Independence, then would it not seem like there is some truth to it? Also known as assisted suicide, euthanasia is “the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma” (“Euthanasia”), a practice generally illegal in most countries. Talking about death is never easy, but when it comes down to the facts, it shouldn't be a topic to avoid. The divisive public controversy regarding the moral, legal, and ethical issues surrounding euthanasia tends to report on the subject based on the opinion of the masses instead of looking into each individual case. The ability to decide when an individual wants to cease their existence should be made by the individual and the individual alone. Once rights for a person's life is being limited, then they are unable to truly live their own life.

Euthanasia describes the concept of voluntary suicide usually as an end to pain/suffering. It has been a common subject of debate in regards to moral, religious, philosophical, legal and human rights. The concept is viewed differently in different religions and is a controversial subject as it is so challenging to acknowledge both competing values: an individual’s desire to choose to end their suffering in dignity, and the need to uphold the lawful right of life for all people. Euthanasia is legal in seven countries around the world, and five individual states of the U.S. Different religions also have their opinions on Euthanasia, however, most are against the concept. The Christian beliefs are that birth and death are part of the life processes which God has created, so they should be respected. They believe that it is wrong to shorten a human life as they regard human life as sacred. Although, Jainism has slightly different views on voluntary death at the end of a person’s life.

When people hear the words euthanasia, mercy killing or physician-assisted suicide, they immediately start to think that it will open doors to countless deaths of depressed, suicidal individuals or people who are think life would be better off if they died. They feel like there will be a switch where it starts off as a voluntary procedure, but soon becomes something one can be forced to do. However, critics look over the fact that euthanasia is voluntary, and it’s a person’s right to decide what happens with their body. As stated by Sue Rodriguez, a Canadian advocate for PAS, “If I cannot give consent to my own death, whose body is this? Who owns my life?” (Sue Rodriguez AZ Quotes).

Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Every day, millions suffer indescribable pain. The pain can get so bad that patients are put into medically induced comas. Others sign a DNR, or Do-Not-Resuscitate order, which forces medical professionals to not take any life saving actions when the time comes. Reaching that point is bad enough, but having to continue living after deciding to welcome death is a fate too terrible to imagine. There is a solution, though. Often described as a “mercy killing,” this is achieved when a physician uses medication to put the patient out of their misery-either in a hospital setting administered by the doctor through an IV, or prescribed and filled at a pharmacy to be taken by the patient in their own home. This medication is already being used on humans. Death row inmates are killed by lethal injection all over the country. Why is it that a serial killer gets to die peacefully, while infants and elderly with horrible diseases must suffer for weeks, months, or even years before finally being welcomed into the afterlife? Active euthanasia offers a way to end pain and suffering peacefully and safely when nothing else can.

According to dictionary euthanasia is the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit (The key word here is "intentional". If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia) In U.S. there is a law that person cannot be intentionally killed no matter what. Only in Oregon State euthanasia is legal in United States of America. There are many reasons for euthanasia and there are many arguments for euthanasia. The argument against would be religion, can become a means of health care cost containment, euthanasia will become non- volunteers and many other reasons. And the reasons for euthanasia are Unbearable pain, right to commit suicide; people should not be forced to stay alive. There are so many reasons and questions regarding to euthanasia whether if euthanasia should be legalized or it should be illegal.

Over the years patients have become more invested in their healthcare and on the decisions that involve their bodies. People have taken more account that they have a lot more rights than they initially believed. Prior to 1960, patients were less likely to obtain and discuss health information. This was until The American Medical Association created a code of medical ethics. The code included that the patient has a right to obtain and discuss health information which related to the benefits, risks and costs of treatments. Overall this states that patients can make decisions which pertain to their health. The patient has the right to an adequate health care, confidentiality, the right to refuse treatment. Historically, nurses have played a key role in caring for patients across multiple healthcare settings. Nurses provide expert care throughout their careers. They contribute to the spiritual needs of patients and families, and which they are there to help achieve the optimal recovery to any health problems.

Derived from the Greek word ‘eu’, meaning ‘good’, and ‘thanatos’, meaning ‘death’, Euthanasia is known as the intentional killing or allowance of death of a hopelessly sick or injured individual in a merciless, painless fashion. The American Heritage Dictionary defines euthanasia as “the act or practice of ending the life of a person or animal having a terminal illness or a medical condition that causes suffering perceived as incompatible with an acceptable quality of life, as by lethal injection or the suspension of certain medical treatments.” To put it blatantly, it is a form of suicide. Often referred to in other terms such as “mercy killing” or “Physician-assisted suicide” or simply “assisted suicide”, euthanasia has two procedural classifications: passive and active. Passive euthanasia is when the life sustaining treatments being provided to the patient are withheld. In these cases, patients die because medical professionals either don’t perform any necessary actions to keep the patient alive or they stop doing performing any current actions that were keeping the patient alive. This would include scenarios such as removing the patient off of life support, disconnecting a feeding tube or discontinuing previously provided life-sustaining drugs. Active euthanasia occurs when a medical professional or someone of other authority intentionally performs an action that results in the patient’s death. Euthanasia is the conscious act of a physician or any other individual

Death is classified many things by people. Some realize its unavoidable, while otherwise are fearful of death. What the people are fearful of is our finitude. Euthanasia is the process of a painless killing of someone suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in irreversible coma. (cite) This however is a controversial topic as it is illegal in most countries. There are two different types that will be discussed, that being euthanasia and assisted suicide.

    America’s founding fathers declared that every person had certain inalienable rights they are born with and cannot be separated from. They listed citizens’ rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today's government must decide if a right to life equates to a right to death.

One of the most controversial matters in today’s society is whether or not a terminally ill patient who is in insufferable pain should have the right to choose life or death. As harsh as that sounds, death is imminent for us all. When a dying person's quality of life is so poor, they should have the legal right to choose to die peacefully and with dignity. According to Gerrit Kimsma, an Associate Professor in Medical Philosophy, “Assisting death in so way precludes giving the best palliative care possible but rather integrates compassionate care and respect for the patient’s autonomy and ultimately makes death with dignity a real option” (Kimsma n.pag.). Prolonging the inevitable causes unnecessary false hope and extensive emotional suffering for both the patient and their loved ones. Euthanasia offers a patient the right to openly and honestly choose their fate. This removes the families constant wonder of whether or not they made the “right” medical decision on behalf of their loved one. A frequent misconception with Euthanasia is that it is simply just suicide but according to Penney Lewis with BBC News, “Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor and assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves” (Lewis n.pag.). In no way are Euthanasia and assisted suicide performed for the same reasons. They may both

Voluntary euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide, has been a controversial issue for many years. It usually involves ending a patient’s life early to relieve their illness. Most of the controversy stemmed from personal values like ethics or religion. The euthanasia debate puts a huge emphasis on what doctors should do for their patients and how much a person’s life is worth. Supporters of euthanasia primarily focus on cost and pain alleviation. Opponents of euthanasia tend to focus on morality. Whether euthanasia is legal or not could significantly affect future generations’ attitudes about death. Euthanasia should be legalized nationally because it helps patients that could be in unimaginable pain, offers more options for more people, and it is relatively inexpensive compared to the alternatives.