Persuasive Essay On Euthanasia

Euthanasia, more commonly known as mercy killing, is the action of killing someone in order to end their suffering. This is a way for patients with terminal illnesses to die a peaceful death rather than a painful one; however, it is illegal throughout most of the United States. People have debated for many years whether or not Euthanasia in people should be legal.

“If I cannot consent to my own death, whose body is this?” famously said by Sue Rodriguez. Who was diagnosed with ALS in 1991 and given only a year to live. Expect Sue decided to fight, she wanted to die on her own terms. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 5-4 in that life sanctity was more important than a dignified death. She died soon after in early 1994. It was ruled as a doctor assisted suicide, but no charges were pressed. Around the world, people are victims of terminal illness, just like Sue. Their condition forces them to live in pain. Is it fair to go through all the sickness and discomfort just for the end result of death? Imagine if this were you or a loved one, living in pain and awaiting death. We should have control of our way of life and death when terminally ill. Euthanasia should be a legal right and recognized globally.

as citizen of the United states, one should have the right to die if a diagnosed with a terminal

Did you know that out of 196 countries in the world, only nine countries have legalized euthanasia? (http://www.storypick.com/euthanasia-facts/), that is only 4.6% Euthanasia is a term for peacefully ending somebody’s life with the deliberate intention of doing it. This topic has been debated over for many, many years, whether it should be legal or not. Numerous people believe you should have the choice to decide whether you would like to end your life or not, provided that there is an appropriate reason. (http://www.ves.org.nz/) Others think that it is unnatural, that it is not God’s intention and that your time will come to an end at the right point. There are multiple reasons why people choose euthanasia, the downhearted effects on their family and the several types of euthanasia. This essay will argue that euthanasia should be illegal and that you should not be able to choose your death date.

In the United States 2,600 people die every year ( CDC 1). Everyone dies, whether it be from natural causes, or sudden accidents it is never an easy thing to experience. Physician assisted suicide makes it easier for not only the patient, but the patient's family and friends as well. Assisted suicide is illegal and considered a serious crime in most states. Oregon, Washington, and Montana are the only states where physician assisted suicide is legal ( Brannen 1). Physician assisted suicide is beneficial to everyone and should be legalized in all the states.

“In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death. I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldn’t deny that right to others.” California Governor Jerry Brown wrote this message when he approved the End of Life Option Act in October 5, 2015. Before the law was signed, there was a debate on whether California should allow euthanasia or physician assisted suicide to the patient. There was people who were against the idea of doctors “killing” their patients while there are others who believed that it is a freedom of choice.

“I'm not afraid of being dead. I'm just afraid of what one might have to go through to get there.”

Euthanasia is the act of ending a person’s life with consent by either injecting a lethal drug or removing live supporting devices. Assisted suicide, often categorized in with euthanasia, is when a physician prescribes a lethal drug at the request of the patient for them to then self-administer. Euthanasia is currently illegal in the United States and almost every other country. In 1976 Karen Ann Quinlan lost consciousness and stopped breathing after consuming alcohol and prescription drug. She was rushed to the hospital and declared to be in a persistent vegetative state.

Americans have always struggled with the idea of a painful death. While many patients who are terminally ill decide to deal with the excruciating pain, some patients would rather snip the bud before it blooms. This practice is called euthanasia, intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering, and it currently is not legal in the United States, and has not been since 1828, for good reason (Nordqvist). Euthanasia should not be legalized because it damages the role of the medical profession, it does more harm to the patient than good, it can lead to abuse from doctors and/or the government, and it goes against human dignity.

Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide or mercy killing, is the “deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffering” (Nordqvist). There is much to be argued about euthanasia because it is such a controversial topic, but there is no logical or moral reason it should be illegal. If someone is undergoing unstoppable pain, and is terminally ill, that person should be allowed to die with dignity. Euthanasia should be legal because it is compassionate, financially conscientious and allows for the practice of one’s freedom of choice.

One of the most burdensome aspects of working in the medical field, specifically as a nurse, is the loss of a patient. Similarly, watching a patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal disease struggle with their upcoming death is wearisome. Suffering in the hospital, their life is not of quality and their family is watching them struggle. Highly debated, physician assisted suicide has been named one of the options for terminally ill patients. Physician assisted suicide occurs when a terminally ill patient makes the decision that they would prefer to die, rather than suffer the rest of their life; then a physician can assist them in death by either administering euthanasia to the patient or prescribing the drug to the patient. There are currently, according to Death With Dignity, six states that have legalized physician assisted suicide: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (“Death With Dignity Acts”). While physician assisted suicide is not widely supported, lawmakers should work towards the removal of bans in many locations of physician assisted suicide and towards legalizing; it violates no federal law, end of life care isn’t efficient enough to eliminate mental suffering, animals are euthanized for the same reasons, and it ends the patient’s suffering.

How could one force a person to live in a state where they are no longer “living” their life? Imagine having a loved one that was in a coma, or in a state of mind where they cannot walk, feed or take care of themselves? Having them “live” in this state is a cruel and unruly punishment. Letting them pass is more effective than having their body hooked up to multiple machines. Euthanasia is an ethical way of letting one pass, because it is cruel punishment to let one suffer, not letting them pass is depriving them from their after life, and everyone deserves the right to choose.

“Every person shall have the right to die with dignity; this right shall include the right to choose the time of one's death” (Kumar). Is bringing death to an individual okay? A generally extensive gathering of individuals would rashly answer this inquiry "no," unless it is a demonstration of war or self-protection. Imagine a scenario in which ending the life of an individual would help the individual by closure their agony and enduring. Would it be ethically acceptable to end their pain? Questions like these have surfaced this country many years ago by people considering the ethics of euthanasia, which has become a very controversial topic in America.

“Euthanasia and assisted suicide are terms used to describe the process in which a doctor or a close relative of an either sick or disabled individual (physically or mentally) engages in an activity which directly or indirectly leads to the death of the individual”(402), explains Tal Bergman Levy in the article “Attitudes towards Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: a comparison between Psychiatrists and other Physicians”. This practice is also called “Mercy Killing”, for the fact that the main reason people do it is to be freed from the pain. The procedure may happen in a few forms, but it all depends on the patient and the circumstances; but no matter how it happens the result is the same. An overdose of a shot or pills is how the procedure will kill the patient; it will happen in a matter of minutes and will be given either by the doctor or the patient itself. Assisted suicide has been controversial throughout the United States, and only a few states have legalized it. But assisted suicide is wrong and should be illegal nationally because it goes against the Hippocratic Oath doctors take, it could easily be corrupted, and it goes against most of the human morals.

The U.S. Federal government should develop a prudent, controlled policy allowing euthanasia for the terminally ill. Euthanasia is commonly referred to as physician-assisted suicide. Assisted suicide, a related form of euthanasia, describes the process by which a physician or pharmacist only prescribes the fatal drugs, leaving the terminally ill individual to ingest the drugs on their own, at a time of their choosing. As of 2009, physician-assisted suicide was not legal in any state in America, while assisted suicide was legal in three states, Oregon, Washington and Missouri (Walter).