Euthanasia Essay

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Euthanasia: the Final Analysis

In America today many arguments are centered around the right to choose: the right for women to have an abortion, the right for gays to be allowed to raise children or be legally married, and the right to physician-assisted suicide. These arguments all have something to do with the individual having the right to make this choice or if society should be able to decide for them, thus removing this choice. Euthanasia is a choice everyone should have, but like all rights, it should not be taken advantage. By legalizing euthanasia the practice of assisted suicide would be an available choice as well as regulated to see that it does not get abused and used for the wrong reasons.

The word 'euthanasia' is derived from the Greek - eu, "good", and thanatos, meaning "death" [Marker, Special to Insight]. Some think of euthanasia as mercy killing, while others see it as murder. There are two ways to induce euthanasia, actively or passively. Passive euthanasia is defined as the bringing about of someone's death by withdrawing all forms of support and letting nature run its course. Active euthanasia involves causing death to someone through a direct action, like giving someone a lethal injection of controlled substances, or a high dose of carbon monoxide.

There are many cases where euthanasia has come under close scrutiny. Most memorable are those involving Dr. Kavorkian. Known as "Dr. Death", as some headlines read, Dr. Kavorkian has become famous for his many assisted suicides with his suicide machine. In most cases the people involved in these high profile cases are battling a terminal illness, are in great pain, and have a quality of life so low they do not have the will to go on living. It is obvious that all medical treatment has been exhausted and that there has been a great deal of time and thought put into this decision. Why then are these people not allowed to seek out a painless alternative in their situation?

Over the past few decades, ageing populations and advances in medical technology have put a growing number of people attached to a machine but wanting to die. Even for those who escape this fate, medical treatment has

often made death more prolonged and more painful. These developments have sparked complex and emotive debates about how to handle the final stages of life.

In 1997 the American Supreme Court found that there is no constitutional right to assisted suicide [Economist, Oct 16,'99]. However, the court's ruling did not bar states from passing laws explicitly creating such a right if they chose to do so. For example, the state of Oregon passed a bill that allows limited physician-assisted suicides depending on the ethical and moral issues of the case [Economist, Oct 16,'99]. However, recently other nations and even states have passed laws on the practice of euthanasia. The Dutch parliament is currently considering a bill that would make permanent a 15-year experiment in allowing doctor-assisted suicide by writing into law, regulations which have governed such practices. Assisted suicides should be openly discussed and regulated to make sure that both the patients and the doctors are protected.

When it comes to euthanasia, many moral and ethical questions arise. For instance, what if the practice of physician-assisted suicide gets out of control and abused? What if it being used carelessly or for all the wrong reasons? What about the religious aspects? What if euthanasia causes those who are disabled or old fear that their life...

Marker, Rita L. "Special to Insight", Insight on the News, Symposium; Pg. 25 March 8, 1999, News World Communications, Inc.

The Economist, October 16, 1999, U.S. Edition, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. You should cite this paper as follows:

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