Dying with Dignity

Furthermore, euthanasia is a disgrace to humanity. An individual person or group shouldn’t decide how, when, and if another person should die. The act of ending someone’s life just because another decided that the individual’s life gives no worth to the person or to society is unjust. That is simply the person’s opinion, and their opinion shouldn’t end a precious human life. Usually, people with disabilities who request euthanasia, do so because of how others treat them, not because of their actual disability. If we were to respect those with disabilities, that would remove hardships, not death. Another reason why euthanasia is wrong is that a person who can’t think straight or is a human vegetable, a person who does not have mental or physical abilities (O’Steen). She/he can be killed by a guardian’s request according to law, even if the patient never showed a desire to die. The Declaration of Independence states our rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” and euthanasia goes against that. If the right to live is reduced, all over rights are worthless (“Euthanasia Statement”).

Some laws define “terminal” condition as one from which death will occur in a “relatively short time”. Medical experts acknowledge that it is virtually impossible to predict life expectancy of a particular patient. So then, exactly what is terminal? Euthanasia advocates ask, “Should people be forced to stay alive?” Advocates state that insistence, against patient’s wishes, that death be postponed by every means available goes against the law and practices of the medical profession, and would be cruel and inhumane.

Many Americans are diagnosed with a terminal illness each day. Hearing that kind of news and knowing there is less than a year left to live and the quality of life would no doubt be heartbreaking. During the last few months of a terminal patient’s life they are often in tremendous pain and suffering. Those with terminal illnesses are treated with life prolonging measures including chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments and the illness itself often leave the patient 's feeling as if they are a shell of who they were and miserable. “Numerous ailments such as certain types of cancer result in a slow, agonizing death” (Messerli, Joe). Physician Assisted Suicide allows

If a patient can come to a decision when it is time to stop treatment for their terminal illness, then they should also be allowed to choose when to bring death. End of life care has become just as important of an issue to physicians as well as the patients. If physician-assisted deaths were permitted in all 50 states, physicians could openly discuss end of life wishes with their patients. The term “Terminally ill”, Is a terminal condition that is a disease or process that will result eventually in a patient's death, no matter what treatment is given. Of course, this could

Furthermore, the right to die, according to the book, Euthanasia, by Linda Jackson, is considered a basic human right. Medical professionals have claimed to have had their patients not wish to undergo the heaviness of sedation. Today, relationships between doctors and their patients have appeared to be more equal, instead of just relying on the doctor, when it comes to making decisions about the patient’s health (Jackson 30). Given these points, allowing euthanasia to terminally ill patients would give them the chance to choose to end their distress, which therefore allows the right to die and the right to decide which type of treatment the patient would receive.

The greatest freedom for any individual is to live and to die on your own personal terms, desires and beliefs. People have choices when it comes to “end-of-life” such as, advanced care directives, to physician-assisted dying, and death with dignity, which is a movement that provides options for terminally ill to control their own “end-of-life” care. The term “assisted suicide” is a term used to explain a process where a doctor physically engages in a procedure, in which death will occur to an individual that is terminally ill, via directly or indirectly. “Voluntary termination of one’s own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect

A person that is living with a incurable disease that will eventually kill them in the end is living with a pain that is too much for anyone to handle, has the right to end it. Especially, if death was certainly not far away. Before they decide to make that decision, the doctors must let them know the facts and not give them a false sense of hope, so the patient can make an educated decision. Doctors are there to help the patient and that means in assisting them in suicide. That is known as active euthanasia. That is when the doctors are

The terminally ill are dying without dignity. Over 90% of people with a terminal illness will endure their situation and try to live out the last months easily and happy , but between 5-10% find it intolerable and request euthanasia. “A minority of those with a hopeless illness also suffer intractable symptoms and request euthanasia.”

The world revolves around the perception that a healthy life is guaranteed until it is abruptly interfered with a life tragedy or sickness. When terminally ill, an individual encounters a disease that cannot be cured and is reasonably expected to die. This particular term is used with a variation of illnesses, affecting a multitude of the nation's population. From cancerous tumors to prolonged comas, lives are tragically affected. Living with painful, endless symptoms can lead to patients suffering for an immeasurable time. A common request among these patients are to be assisted in suicide, or euthanasia. There are many reasons towards the intentions of dying, but it continues to bring controversy throughout the world. When fitted to reasonable

Envision you have just been diagnosed with end stage cancer. You are only given a few months remaining to live. Your doctor informs you of the frightening and painful experiences that await you. As your health begins to deteriorate, your family no longer recognizes the person that you once were. Would you choose the path to suffering tremendous amounts of pain or would you want to die peacefully before that occurred? Euthanasia is the assisted death option for those who are diagnosed with an incurable disease. It is the permissive right of voluntary suicide, to prevent those that are terminally ill from suffering in vain. Some terminally ill patients suffer a great deal of pain, and do not wish to prolong their suffering. Euthanasia ensures that a person with a degenerative disease can end their life with the assistance of the medical community. It should be the choice of the individual to end their suffering, the pain that their family goes through, emotionally and financially.

The world is unfortunately filled with unpleasant things like pain and suffering. As we have mentioned when talking about Hauerwas with similar ideas on different topics and situations, a lot of people have a hard time with not being able to be in control of their life and certain situations in it. They also need some type of purpose of meaning associated with their life. So when it comes to situations like incurable diseases or disorders, this can take a very large toll on them, and can almost make life seem as if it is not worth living anymore. As cruel as it might be, sometimes we as humans just can’t escape this feeling and at some point we have to accept that death is a part of life. I think that for some of those who have terminal illnesses, they view euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide not as murder or suicide, but rather a release from the pain that holds down and a quicker, less painful way to get to the end that will happen anyways.

The argument against the notion of human euthanasia suggests that life is sacred and endurance of suffering is part life. In the article “The Economist: The Right to Die” suggests that individuals have the right to death rather than suffering a painful journey to death. Religious biases and culture heavily influenced my argument against human euthanasia. Although, I have not been able to experience extreme forms of diseases and physical impairments such as terminal cancer, being quadriplegic, or even having third degree burns on 90% of my body. In most of the circumstances mentioned, individuals suggest that the quality of life is not worth living and death is a far better option. Although euthanasia can be perceived as a better option for certain individuals, there are concerns revolving around this notion. Medical assistance can get very costly, especially for lower income families. There exists the risk of sick patients from lower income families being susceptible to exploitation by “rogue doctors, grasping relatives, miserly insurers or cash strapped states” (The Right to Die 1). Another major concern to be taken into account is the idea that the sick and elderly have a duty to die. The notion that “the remaining goal in life is not to be a burden to their loved ones” (The Duty to Die versus The Duty to Stay Alive 1) and save family members from pain and economic constraints is tragic. It is this notion in particular that leaves patients vulnerable and in turn stain the pursuit of death. External factors such as economic, family and social constraints should not be deciding factors to choosing

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,

Millions of people die each year from terminal illnesses such as heart disease, respiratory infections, and several types of cancers. Doctors find it necessary to force patients to stay alive regardless of their wishes. Some patients would like to die with dignity and on their own terms. Hospitalized patients whose life will end soon, due to a terminal disease, should be able to proceed to end it if they desire. If the states would allow them the right to die, “many patients with diminishing health would be relieved of their pain and hurt” (The Benefits). No one wants to suffer or to see his loved ones suffer. The pain and suffering is unnecessary and causes a lot of stress on the doctors, patients, and the patients’ families. Terminally ill

Most adults diagnosed with cancer undergo years of treatment in attempts to cure that cancer. However, sometimes these treatments may not work, or the cancer is found too late in a patient to be stopped, and a patient’s cancer can be determined terminal, which means that the cancer can not be cured and will lead to death. If cancer is determined terminal, end-of-life care can be administered patients to control lasting pains, including shortness of breath, nausea, and constipation. However, this treatment does not cure the cancer, and will not prevent death in a terminally ill cancer patient. In some cases, patients decide that receiving end-of-life treatment is not worth it if the treatment does not prevent death. Terminally ill cancer patients may also continue to experience unbearable suffering, despite end-of-life treatments, as it is not always effective. These factors may push some terminally ill cancer patients to request to be actively euthanized. Active euthanasia is the merciful ending of a patient’s life through a single act, such as an injection. Terminally ill cancer patients should have the right to determine if they are actively euthanized. However, only patients who consider their suffering unbearable should have the right to be euthanized.