Euthanasia Essay Research Paper Euthanasia formerly know

Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper

Euthanasia, formerly know as .mercy killing,. means intentionally making someone die, rather than allowing them to die naturally. In an online article by the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force says that euthanasia means killing in the name of compassion. Euthanasia is one of the most important public policy issues being debated today. The outcome of that debate will profoundly affect family relationships, interaction between doctors and patients, and concepts of basic morality (Euthanasia: Answers). Some cases exist in which euthanasia should be allowed, when done under the guidance of a medical doctor.

Euthanasia has become an issue of increasing attention because of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.s assisted suicides. Because of an increasing number of assisted suicides in Michigan, Gov. Engler signed an anti-assisted suicide law in September of 1998 that made doctor-assisted suicides a felony. This law places anyone assisting in a suicide to prison sentence of up to five years and/or fined up to $10,000 (Michigan Governor). By signing this, Gov. Engler has put a great deal of stress onto some patients who wish to take their lives this way but now have no way of doing it.

With the passing of this law many people thought that most of the population would be against the right-to-die, not so. In a survey that I conducted on the campus of Marshall University on Oct. 22, 1999, 80% of the students that I interviewed think sometimes there are circumstances when a patient should be allowed to die, compared to only 15% think doctors and nurses should always do everything possible to save a person.s life. It also showed that 80% of these students approve of state laws that allow medical care for the terminally ill to be removed or withheld, if the patient .wishes,. whereas only 13% disapproved of the laws. Also 70% think the family should be allowed to make the decision about treatment on behalf of the patient if they are unable to. 70% think it is justified at least sometimes for a person to kill his or her spouse, if he or she is suffering terrible pain caused by a terminal illness. Even suicide is starting to be accepted. About half of those with living parents think their mothers and fathers would want medical treatment stopped if they were suffering a great deal of pain in a terminal disease or if they became totally dependant on a family member (Survey on Euthanasia). There are some people in this society that feel as if this really isn.t a problem, but more of a solution. If someone wants to end their own life, then who are we to stop them. With the continuous coverage of Dr. Kevorkian the views of people will continue to change. Euthanasia will continue to become more of an issue.

As with any issue, each viewpoint is supported by many reasons. In Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints, different writers give forth reasons for both sides of this argument. Those who oppose euthanasia argue that the medical profession must always be on the side of .preserving life.(24). Another reason is euthanasia will lead to the .devaluation of life. (37). Also they think it will force doctors and family members to .judge the value of a patient.s life.. Critics also say that acceptance will spread from the terminally ill to the less serious ill, the handicapped, or the mentally retarded (117). One reason that those who favor euthanasia agree upon is that a person has the right to a death with dignity. Another reason is a person should be allowed a .natural death. instead of a prolonged death with medical equipment. Still another reason is that doctors are supposed to ease the pain of people not prolong it (19).

Death is one of the few things that all people have in common. This means that there is a chance for anyone to face the decision of letting someone go. Euthanasia should be legalized so people will only have to think about the difficult decision of the present and not about the consequences of the future.

One of the bases people for euthanasia give is, a person has the right to die with dignity. People should be allowed to control their own deaths. Why should a patient be forced to live if they think their present standard of life has .degenerated to the point of meaningless., when doctors can no longer help, and perhaps the pain has become unbearable. At this point, if the person is of sound mind, they should have the choice to continue on or to peacefully die, even if they need assistance in doing so (Euthanasia: Opposing Viewpoints, 153).

If the person is not able to make this decision there should be a few options, a living will, the family.s choice, and the doctor.s choice. A living will should be allowed to control the outcome if the person is unable to. If there is no living will the family, consulting with a qualified physician, should be allowed to decide for the patient. The one situation that is most controversial is a patient with no family or no family member qualified to make the decision. Some think the doctor should be able to make the decision for the patient.

The doctor should be allowed to decide if the patient has reached the point of only getting worse and in considerable pain. In any of these situations a doctor should be at least an advisor, they are the ones with the medical knowledge, and know the present condition of the patient and the alternatives. .In any humane or humanistic vi