The Living Pain Term paper

While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject (the living pain)
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!

The Living Pain

For centuries, death was measured by a physician feeling for a pulse and putting a mirror under the patient's mouth. If there were no signs of life-no pulse, no breath, death was certified. In the last few decades, however, a physician's duty has not been so simple. More intricate scientific tests may be called for; and the law defining the point at which life ends is not so easy to formulate.

Many steps must be taken to determine death. At the same time, many steps must occur so the person can have the right to say that they do not want to be respired.

In "passive or negative euthanasia" the person dies naturally of the disease process; in "active euthanasia" the person is killed. "Active euthanasia" is often confused with allowing the terminally ill person to die naturally of the disease. Allowing an individual to die means foregoing or stopping medical treatments intended to prolong life. For example, a terminally ill person on a respirator (breathing machine) in an intensive care ward may request that the machine be turned off and that they be allowed to die. The discontinuation of the life support technology when any realistic hope for recovery has completely vanished is a legal, ethical, and appropriate act also known as "passive euthanasia."

Through the research of this paper, I have looked at both sides of the argument. I can say that I agree with the side of "passive euthanasia".

One advocate of the legalization of "active or positive euthanasia" has said "that it matters very much indeed if but one person who would have decided for a quick death is forced to undergo a protracted one. It also matters, of course, if but one person who would have decided to live longer is pressured into accepting a quick death" (McKenzie 491).

Hein 2

For some people, any appeal to utility in considering the desirability of legalizing euthanasia will seem cruel and inappropriate.

If "passive euthanasia" becomes legally and morally accepted, it is inevitable that strong pressures will be put on many patients who "do not want to die, but who feel they should not live

on, because to do so when there looms the legal alternative of euthanasia is to do a selfish or a cowardly act" (McKenzie 479).

An important attempt to incorporate euthanasia into law took place in England in 1931. Dr. Killick Millard, health officer for the city of Leicester, gave his presidential address before the Society of Officers of Health. In a subsequent article in Fortnightly Review, he presented his specific proposals in a draft bill entitled "The Voluntary Euthanasia Legalization Bill." It included the following provisions:

1. An application for a euthanasia permit may be filed by a dying person stating that they

have been informed by two medical practitioners that they are suffering from a fatal

and incurable disease, and that the process of death is likely to be protracted and

painful.

2. The application must be attested by a magistrate and accompanied by two medical

certificates.

3. The application and certificates must be examined by the patient and relatives

interviewed by a 'euthanasia referee.'

4. A court will then review the application, certificates, the testimony of the reefer and any

other representatives of the patient. It will then issue a permit to receive euthanasia to

the applicant and a permit to administer euthanasia to the medical practitioner (or

euthanizer).

5. The permit would be valid for a specified period, within which the patient would

determine if and when they wished to use it. (Humphry 13)

Hein 3

Are these the kind of pressures we want to inflict on any person, let alone a very sick person? Are these the kind of pressures we want to impose on any family, let alone an emotionally shattered family? And if so, why not also proper considerations for the crippled, the paralyzed, the quadruple amputee, the iron-lung occupant and their families?

The withholding of grand-style heroic surgery from a ninety-nine year old hopelessly dying patient who begs to be left alone is not euthanasia even if surgery could prolong the life several more weeks. The injection of a massive dose of morphine to this same patient, producing death, would be considered euthanasia. The difference is that of an act of commission as opposed to an act of omission. Euthanasia induces death by commission. It does not allow nature to take its course. The act itself is the same cause of death.

Acts of omission do not interfere with the natural process. The withholding of treatment permits death to occur naturally. It does not induce death.

There is another difference between "passive euthanasia and "active euthanasia". Although "active euthanasia" is based upon the right to die, it also includes the right to kill.

The right to die involves the right of the individual to self-determine - the right of that person to refuse treatment, the right of the individual to privacy. These rights are isolated to that individual. They are not associated with the placing of burdens, obligations or responsibilities on other people or on society.

Euthanasia includes the same rights of self-determination, but at the same time, demands that another member of society induce death. Does an individual have the right to impose such a burden on someone, probably the physician, to comply with...

You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 26 May, 2012 from
    <http://essaymania.com/64097/the-living-pain>

More College Papers

The Right To Life essay
The Right to Life Should an unborn baby have the write to live? What if the baby is diagnosed with a terminal illness? How about if the woman has an unplanned pregnancy? Many people ask these same questions about the right to life or death. My personal belief is that unborn babies have the right t

The Ongoing Struggle For A Family essay
The Ongoing Struggle for a Family “The most important thing in a family is that all the people in it love each other.” This excerpt is from a children’s book, written by Leslea Newman, Called “Heather Has Two Mommies.” This story is intended to show kids that not everyone’s family is the same.

The Effects Of Birth Control essay
Richard Bradford IV. Mr. Jonathan Bishop Birth Control Report Tuesday March 28, 2000 The Effectiveness of Birth Control Today’s woman has many birth control options that allow her to plan whether or not she has children, when she has children, and the age difference between her children. This