EuthanasiaMercy Or Murder Essay Research Paper Euthanasia

Euthanasia-Mercy Or Murder Essay, Research Paper

Euthanasia:

Is it “mercy killing” or just plain killing.

“In keeping with the root definition of ‘euthanasia’- literally [meaning] ‘good

death’- [supporters] of euthanasia insist they are talking about helping terminally ill

patients in insufferable pain die a dignified death- at the patient’s request. But this

bears no resemblance to the true picture of the actual practice of euthanasia in the

United States” (Lyons np). Passive euthanasia is death by nonintervention, meaning

a health care worker can discontinue providing life-sustaining treatment to the

patient, thus allowing him to die more quickly. “In all actuality, [passive]

euthanasia often involves withholding food and water from a patient whose death is

caused by starvation or dehydration rather than the patient’s underlying disease”

(Lyons np). In active euthanasia, a physician or family member takes the life of a

patient by means of lethal injection, before he or she dies of a terminal illness or

injury. Currently, passive euthanasia is prohibited in most states, but not all.

Whereas, active euthanasia is illegal in every state. Although many people believe

that euthanasia is a way for people to die with dignity, it is the deliberate taking of a

human life and should be banned because it is a clear form of murder.

Of course, supporters of euthanasia do not agree that this is an act of murder,

but rather they see it as an act of mercy. They believe that when an individual’s

quality of life is severely diminished by debilitating diseases or terminal illnesses, he

or she should have the right to decide between life or death by euthanasia. They

strongly feel that their love ones should be allowed to die peacefully, surrounded by

family and friends. They believe that to assist a loved one with ‘mercy killing’ is an

unselfish act of compassion, and to grant their last wish allows them to die with

dignity. The most active group of supporters are members of the Hemlock Society.

These supporters are Christians and churchgoers and believe that the God they

worship is a God of understanding and love. They also believe that “as long as [the

act of ‘mercy killing’] was justifiable and met the conditions of not hurting other

people then they feel that God would accept them into heaven” (Humphry 19).

Sure, in the eyes of euthanasia supporters, even those who claim to be

Christians, ‘mercy killing’ is a noble and compassionate act, but what is the 5th

commandment. You shall not kill. Those four words alone seem to eliminate all

possible suggestions in favor of euthanasia. Derek Humphry, founder of the

Hemlock Society, “… helped his wife, who was suffering from incurable bone

cancer, to take her life by supplying her with a cup of coffee laced with a lethal

mixture of secobarbital and codeine” (Worsnop 156). “Our society, basing its

views primarily on the fundamental values of Judaism and Christianity, has always

forbidden the taking of innocent life and has considered that act one of the most

serious, if not the most serious, breaches of morality possible” (Bleich 41).

Judeo-Christians believe that a person has no inherent right to commit suicide and

that the life of man can be reclaimed only by God Himself. They feel that suffering

is a part of God’s life plan and that human’s should accept it and learn from it. After

all, if there were no suffering, how would humans know the value of peace and

happiness. They also believe in the importance and value of human life, that it is

precious gift and should be taken care of. David Bleich expresses the views of

those opposed to euthanasia by stating that, “Human life is a divine mystery and

man [has been] commanded to create, to nurture, to sustain, and to preserve the life

that has been [given] to him” (40).

However, not all religious believers feel that euthanasia is unethical and

immoral. For example, Rabbi Joseph Edelheit states, “I would support active

euthanasia and even some selected cases of physician-assisted suicides with the

awareness and participation of the dying person and his or her family and closest

friends. I make this statement fully aware that life is a unique divine gift” (45).

Rabbi Edelheit believes that God has granted us this final act of free will. He

believes that we must humanely support euthanasia requested by patients and

surrogates, especially those lying in vegetative states or those who cannot die for

various legal reasons. He asks, “How can we justify this indignity to them and their

families.” (47). He strongly feels that those suffering deserve to die with dignity.

But does euthanasia ensure death with dignity. In all actuality, “ ‘Death with

dignity’ has become a catch phrase, but there’s nothing dignified about the methods

[euthanasia activists] advocate. For example, one euthanasia organization

distributes pamphl

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