Ethics Of Euthanasia Essay

be fed orally because of blistering in the mouth and throat. Any movement of the

(TCO D) A patient's family may be actively involved in end-of-life decisions for patients who are incapacitated or incompetent. Compare and contrast two legal cases that address the rights

Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are both types of medical assistance aiding in ending a suffering patient’s life. This pain may be due to a terminal illness and suffering as well as those in an irreversible coma. This practice of doctor assisted suicide is illegal in many countries, but is increasing in popularity as people start to recognize the positive aspects that euthanasia has to offer for those that fit the criteria. Euthanasia is essential for those, placed in such life diminishing situations, and whom no longer want to experience suffering. This is where the issue gets complicated, and many religious groups argue that individuals should not have the legal right to choose whether they get to die or not, but that it is simply in God’s hands. Suffering patients argue that they should be given the right to choose whether or not they have to experience this suffering, to end their life with the dignity they still have, and to alleviate the stress that their deteriorating life conditions have on their families, themselves and the entire healthcare system. Therefore, despite the many arguments, euthanasia can have a very positive impact on the lives and families of suffering individuals, as well as the Canadian healthcare system.

When someone is inevitably dying and in inexplicable pain is it really a crime to grant their wishes and end their suffering? As of right now euthanasia is illegal in many countries and is a very controversial topic. Is it compassion for the patient helping them in ending their life or murder? The doctor is not giving death as an option, it is the patients choice and even where it is legal there are many rules. Euthanasia should not be considered a crime because the patient is not being murdered; they are having their suffering end in a painless, humane way out of compassion for the patient and their family.

“Death is quite often better than what we do to patients” (Pavlish, Brown-Saltzman, Hersh, Shirk, & Rounkle, 2011, p. 390). This quote comes from a palliative care nurse who witnesses the suffering and extreme pain her patients endure on the daily. In this paper we will discuss the ethical dilemma of euthanasia and how it affects the nursing profession, along with the moral issues pertaining to the dilemma.

Euthanasia is defined as an 'act of killing someone painlessly to relieve his or her suffering'[1]. It's etymology is derived from the Greek 'eu thanatos' which means a good death. It is a contentious issue that provokes strong arguments for and against changing UK legislation to permit it. The UK currently prohibits active euthanasia. Active euthanasia is an act where the intention is to end or deliberately shorten someone's life.

In cases were “It just so happens that sometimes, when that suffering is so great, the only release from that suffering is death. That is not murder. That is no suicide. That is mercy” (McDonald, 2015) This quote from Lecretia Seales husband helps to put many peoples situations into context when it comes to the debate of euthanasia or assisted suicide.

I would like to begin by defining the issue of the article by Patrick Nowell-Smith. The issue of his article is legalizing euthanasia and giving people a right to decide when and how to die.

Being not legal in England has resulted in a 77 year old man, Barrie Sheldon being faced with a 14-year prison sentence for assisting his wife to die. The two main ethical theories that will be discussed are Utilitarian ethics and Kantian ethics both contradicting each other justifying what is morally right and wrong.

What is the value of life exactly? Who decides whether or not someone’s life is valuable? These and many other questions are asked when the controversial topic of euthanasia is discussed. Certain groups and different politicians disapprove of the legalization of euthanasia, arguing that it is immoral and unethical. Doctors use modern medicine and expanding technology to “extend” one’s life. However, court mandates and/or politicians should not decide our rights. Especially when it involves our own bodies. When we feel as though we should end the pain and suffering from a terminal illness, then I believe it’s our autonomy. The individual and/or the individual’s family should make the final decision. A patient of a fatal disease such as

Is it right to intentionally bring about the death of a person? The vast majority of people would instinctively answer this question “no,” unless it related to an act of war or perhaps self-defense. What if taking the life of the person would benefit that person by ending their suffering? Would it be morally acceptable to end their suffering? Questions like these are debated by those considering the morality of euthanasia, which is a very controversial topics in America. Euthanasia can be defined as “bringing about the death of another person to somehow benefit that person” (Pojman). The term implies that the death is intentional. Because there are several different types of euthanasia, it is difficult to make a blanket statement

The Right to die, also known as Euthanasia, refers to various issues related to the decision of whether an individual should be allowed to choose to die when the other option is for him or her to continue living with the aid of life support, or in a diminished or handicapped state. It also refers to the idea that a person with a terminal illness should be allowed to commit suicide before death occurs or should have the right to refuse to have his or her life extended by artificial or heroic means. Such actions may be done by withdrawing feeding tubes and other artificial means of life support from a terminally ill person. The concept of the right to die is often referred to as dying with dignity. Therefore, when a patient is forced to undergo any sort of serious treatment, any decision regarding their care can be revealed ahead of time by executing a living will or a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Usually patients exercising the right to die will have also made explicit their wish to receive only palliative care to reduce pain and suffering. The existence of the right to die is encompassed and protected by the Fourteenth Amendment which grants the personal choice, made by a mentally competent, terminally ill adult to commit physician-assisted suicide and therefore, should be upheld as a law of the United States of America.

Euthanasia is a topic that provokes as much controversy as capital punishment, primarily because it is irreversible. The question of euthanasia being right or wrong is one that most would prefer left alone. However, recent publicity on changes to existing laws has ignited considerable discussion and has forced open the door to a much wider audience. The issues related to direct euthanasia have raised many questions in my mind, to which I am still searching for answers. I believe it is necessary to consider arguments, both, for and against, in order to come to any conclusion. In this paper I will address Brian Clowes' article in the "Pro-Life Activist's Encyclopedia", located on the

I have born in Guangzhou, China, and spent long period of time living and studying in Hong Kong. Hong Kong impressed me the most is that people living there are embodying the spirit of freedom, and they can always stand out to fight for their right and freedom. I am a talkative person, and I can tell others what I am thinking very accurately. I am passionate of communicate with different people because this is a way to get to know more things about the world with fun. They tell me about their jobs, places that they have traveled, and delicious food they have eaten. Hearing their stories can make me feel like I have experienced what they did too. Therefore, I can never imagine how it would be like if I am not able to receive any message or communicate with people anymore. What brings me more sorrow is that when watching drama which includes scene that describe the main character unfortunately got into a car crash, and she end up live her whole life in vegetative state. I could not imagine if this situation happens to me, how much pain I would bring to my family, and how do I live my live. Later, I realized that this has been a social issue for long when I see a real case.

Years ago, talking about death was a social taboo. Although, some civilizations have not open their minds that much, each day more people have opened their minds to a new way of looking at death. People have realized that as humans, they are not here to suffer; instead, they are here to enjoy life. Euthanasia is a word that in the past years has appeared on the media. Cases appeared each day, and people are not still reacting to it in a good way, probably because they do not know what it is really implied on it. People think of it as only a way of killing people, not in the way of helping patients with a better departure. People think that euthanasia has been accepted, by few, as the first and only option