Euthanasia
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Euthanasia is an incredibly complex subject and is discussed frequently throughout the world today. Euthanasia is known as the purposeful ending of ones life by someone else at the request of the person who is being put to death (Robinson 1). The world has many views on euthanasia but there seems to be two main opposing sides. One side believes that a person should have the choice of dying. The other side believes that it is immoral to kill another human being and that there are, in many cases, other alternatives to euthanasia. I believe the second view is stronger because there are more disadvantages than advantages. Euthanasia will destroy trust between doctors and patients, if voluntary euthanasia is legalized eventually non-voluntary euthanasia will be legalized, and because it is a rejection of the importance of human life.
Euthanasia is not a new topic that has just recently been brought up. Debates over this topic have been going on for years. In the late 1930s and early 1940s Hitler ordered extensive mercy killing of the sick and disabled. At first the Nazis started with newborns and young children that showed signs of mental and physical retardation. Later the program grew to include older disabled people. He sought to eliminate what he had called “life unworthy of life” (“Arguments” paras. 8, 9).
But more recent events such as the works of Dr. Jack Kevorkian have sparked more interest in this subject. Dr. Kevorkian has brought much attention to the topic of euthanasia. Kevorkian was a controversial doctor well known for supporting the patients “right to die” and helping terminally ill patients commit suicide. He had helped more than one hundred people commit suicide during the 1990s. Kevorkian was later charged with second degree murder and is currently serving fifteen to twenty years for helping patients commit suicide (“Kevorkian” paras.1, 2). Kevorkians work has raised the question of whether euthanasia is immoral or a human right.
There happens to be many reasons why euthanasia is considered by people. In many cases people that have a terminal illness may think of euthanasia as a way to stop their suffering caused by the illness. The thought of living the rest of their life in pain may be unbearable for them and they want to have control over when and how they will die. Another reason why euthanasia is contemplated is because they are becoming a burden on their caretakers. They feel like they have lost independence and their dignity. Another reason why euthanasia is considered is because of financial concerns. Many people consider euthanasia to save their familys money. Hospital bills may be too high for someone to afford to keep on living. As said in a statement against assisted suicide by members of Michigans Religious Leaders Forum “Those who promote this last, fatal escape as a “right” should remember that such a “right” may quickly become an expectation and, finally, even a “duty” to die. We fear eventually some individuals and families will be forced to put financial concerns above the needs of loved ones.”(“Arguments” para 1).
Admittedly, the opposing side does have some valid points. One argument is that the demands of the person should be respected as long as the actions dont cause harm to anyone else. People who are dying want control over the last phase of their life. They want to die on their own terms and to restore their dignity (“Voluntary” para. 10). According to the article “Euthanasia and Physician Assisted suicide,” those who are in favor of euthanasia say it is their “right to die”. Most people who are on this side think that it should be a matter of personal choice, and it is a human right. Another argument of this side is that it is inhumane to keep dying people alive when they are in a great deal of pain. People in who believe this to be true think that it isnt right to keep a person alive when they have lost the will to live. They believe it is wrong to let another human suffer a large amount of pain, and that it is better to speed up the dying process to alleviate their pain (Dyck 241).
These arguments are fine but it appears there are far more disadvantages of legalizing euthanasia. For example, it would destroy the doctor to patient relationship. According to the article “Arguments against Euthanasia,” doctors take the Hippocratic Oath pledging that they “will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any counsel” (para. 1). The doctor – patient relationship is based on trust. This trust may be ruined if euthanasia is legalized. Patients may fear that their doctor may decide to euthanize them if doctors say their life is no longer worth living.
Doctors may also decide that a life might not be worth saving and let that person die instead of doing everything in their power to save the patient. According to the article “Anti-Euthanasia, Pro Pain Control,” doctors need to provide the best quality care for all patients and to do everything possible to save that persons life (“Anti-Euthanasia” para. 2). According to Lawrence V. Foye, M.D, “If a physician withholds maximum efforts from patients he considers hopelessly ill, he will unavoidably withhold maximum effort from the occasional patient who could have been saved. He reasoned that the only way to be sure a case is hopeless is to try all available therapies and find them of no avail” (“Arguments” para. 5).
If legalized doctors may use euthanasia to keep medical costs down. A doctor may euthanize patients to save effort and money instead of saving their life. According to Wesley J. Smith, senior fellow at the Discovery Institute “drugs used in assisted suicide cost only about $40, but that it could take $40,000 to treat a patient properly so that they dont want the “choice” of assisted suicide,” (para. 4). The patient may feel forced into deciding euthanasia to help save money for his or her family.
Another consequence that could come about as a result of the legalization of euthanasia is that it may become non-voluntary. As discussed in the article “Arguments against Euthanasia” Many people may star to feel guilty about not choosing death if it is suggested. Financial situations may force a person to choose euthanasia (para. 9). This will also make other groups of people such as the elderly more vulnerable to becoming candidates for euthanasia. Older people may be thought of as a burden in their later years. They could possibly be euthanized to make room for