The Euthanasia Debate - 1211 Words

Euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a terminally ill patient by means of lethal injection by a doctor in a controlled medical environment. Similarly, physician assisted suicide (PAS) is when a patient requests a lethal prescription from a doctor or pharmacist to end their life before a fatal disease does. The two are akin to each other and are almost interchangeable in definitions. Being a highly controversial topic, there is a plethora of arguments surrounding PAS, all very emotionally driven and opinionated. There are those who firmly believe that euthanasia should be legal, pointing to morality and ethics to defend their position. On the other side, of course, are those who are inflexibly against the idea of assisted†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦a 1990 Dutch report described a terminally ill patient whose death was accelerated by euthanasia in order to create more room for new patients† (Griswold 2). There are also concerns that euthanasia will b e taken to extreme limits closely resembling the Nazi practice of eugenics. During the Holocaust, Nazis actually started the practice of euthanasia, killing anyone deemed handicapped or not of the socialist party. This was the plan to create the perfect human race, eugenics. Any child under the age of three with any kind of deformity would be euthanized, along with any adult seen to be â€Å"unfit† (Griswold 3-4). What people fear now is that euthanasia will be used once more to â€Å"exterminate† children that are not perfectly healthy in every way, or adults with debilitating handicaps; thus repeating the actions of the Nazis. â€Å"It would be a shame to actively promote suicide at a time when this choice, which often traumatizes surviving family and friends, appears to be waning in popularity† (Pearson 2). There are many people who find PAS to be completely unnecessary, arguing that enough people commit suicide as it is and that PAS should not be promoted. L ately suicide rates have been declining, but with the legalization of PAS the rates are expected to increase. John Pearson writes: There are some signs of hastening death is losing its appeal as advances in medical science led to improved quality of life for those with depression, severe painShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Of Euthanasia And Euthanasia1429 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION: The debate of euthanasia is an ongoing one that’s shrouded with much controversy and ambiguity regarding the ethics of it in contemporary Australian society. However, the frequency of this topic being debated by physicians, influential figures and the media has become more prominent now than ever. In particular, in association with its impending legislation within Australian states. (The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists,2012) Various types of euthanasia are recognisedRead MoreThe Debate About Euthanasia And Euthanasia1631 Words   |  7 PagesThe debates about euthanasia date all the way back to the 12th century. During this time, Christian values increased the public’s opinion against euthanasia. The church taught its followers that euthanasia not only injured individual people and their communities, but also violated God’s authority over life. This idea spread far and wide throughout the public until the 18th century when the renaissan ce and reformation writers attacked the church and its teachings. However, the public did not pay muchRead MoreThe Euthanasia Debate Essay1290 Words   |  6 Pagesthought of suicide, but is euthanasia the same thing? Do human beings have the right to choose death? â€Å"Americans have developed a paradoxical relationship with death-we know more about the causes and conditions surrounding death, but we have not equipped ourselves emotionally to cope with dying and death (Bender and B. Leone).† Death is a scary subject for all humans. And death caused by oneself, or suicide, is even scarier. Suicide on a medical terms, or euthanasia, confuses many people. ItRead More The Euthanasia Debate Essay1583 Words   |  7 PagesA long, ongoing battle in the institutional review boards, ethics committee and in the United states federal court is Physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia. PAS refers to â€Å"a third part action informed by the intended objective (at the ve ry least) to furnish a potential suicide with the lethal means necessary to end his or her bodily life† (Parteson 11). There are victims suffering in silence because of this issue and it calls for immediate action with a federal regulated law. The victimsRead MoreThe Debate Concerning The Morality Of Euthanasia915 Words   |  4 PagesAmericans , arguably more than any other nationality, have a right to their opinion and there exists few subjects that generate more opinions than does euthanasia. The debate concerning the morality of euthanasia parsimoniously rests on the moral assessment of whether or not the physician intentionally kills or intentionally let die the patient. An assumption has been perpetuated that there is a line of demarcation between intending to let die and intending to kill. This pseudo-practical barrierRead MoreThe Debate On Euthanasia Is Never Ending1263 Words   |  6 Pages The debate on euthanasia is never ending. It is an important topic that debates whether assisted death is ethical or In spite of this euthanasia is not discriminatory towards the mentally ill. They are reasons and law Euthanasia is ‘painless inducement of a quick death’. It is is a long living debate that challenges the morality of life. Due to its high controversy only certain countries have legalised the procedure however they have strict rules and procedures that must be followed. InRead MoreCritical Reflection : The Euthanasia Debate1652 Words   |  7 PagesReflection: The Euthanasia Debate Medical advancements and improved living conditions worldwide have increased the life span of our population (U.S. Department of State, 2015). As a result, many individuals are now living with degenerative or chronic ailments that require increased support (Vissers et al., 2013). Unfortunately, these illnesses often come with a â€Å"diminished quality of life† (Butler, Tiedemann, Nicol, Valiquet, 2013). These issues have brought forth the euthanasia debate, which posesRead MoreEssay about The Debate Over Euthanasia1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Debate Over Euthanasia The controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. Society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for good death, refers to the act of ending another person’s life in order to end their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the person’s life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patient’s lifeRead MoreEssay on The Debate of Euthanasia Legalization in Britain980 Words   |  4 PagesThe Debate of Euthanasia Legalization in Britain The term ‘Euthanasia’ comes from the Greek word for ‘easy death’. Is that not how we would like our end to be? Unfortunately, Euthanasia is one of the most controversial issues being debated about in society today. Formally called ‘mercy killing’, euthanasia is the act of purposely making or helping someone to die, instead of allowing nature to take it’s course. Basically, euthanasia means killing in the name of compassionRead MoreThe Ethical Debate On Non Voluntary Euthanasia963 Words   |  4 PagesThe ethical debate on non-voluntary euthanasia is a complex issue due to its multifaceted nature. This topic examines the morality of ending a human’s life in circumstances where the person is incapable of issuing explicit consent. These cases would include utilizing euthanasia on very young children or someone in a vegetative state. There lacks consent with young children since they cannot speak to provide consent. Explicit consent is lacking with someone in a vegetative state since they are