...Legalization of Euthanasia Euthanasia is a topic that has been debated by many over the years. Although Euthanasia is presently illegal in the United States, physician assisted death, or PAD is legal in the states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont and Bernalillo County, New Mexico. To understand Euthanasia, one must understand the way it differs from PAD. The key distinction between the two is that euthanasia requires either a physician or third party to administer the drugs, while in physician assisted death, the drug is administered directly by the individual. The debate over euthanasia dates back to the Greeks and Romans, but it reached the United States in 1870 when Samuel Williams proposed using morphine and anesthetics to intentionally end an individual's life. Debates continued for another 35 years when Ohio attempted to pass a bill which would legalize euthanasia in 1906. While the bill was never passed, it was the first of its kind, and laid the foundation for bills to come (Humphrys). There are many arguments as to why Euthanasia should remain illegal in the United States. Many individuals argue that it fits the definition of murder, and “For present purposes, murder can be defined as the intentional unjustified, unexcused and legally unmitigated killing of another human being. Active euthanasia fits this definition on the basis that it is the, or a cause of, death” (Lanham 2). Although there is some merit to the argument that euthanasia fits the technical definition ...
Words: 3615 - Pages: 15
...0521804167 - Euthanasia, Ethics and Public Policy: An Argument Against Legalisation John Keown Frontmatter More information EUTHANASIA, ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY An Argument against Legalisation Whether the law should permit voluntary euthanasia or physicianassisted suicide is one of the most vital questions facing all modern societies. Internationally, the main obstacle to legalisation has proved to be the objection that, even if they were morally acceptable in certain hard cases, voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide could not be effectively controlled; society would slide down a slippery slope to the killing of patients who did not make a free and informed request, or for whom palliative care would have offered an alternative. How cogent is this objection? This book provides the general reader (who need have no expertise in philosophy, law or medicine) with a lucid introduction to this central question in the debate, not least by reviewing the Dutch euthanasia experience. It will interest readers in any country, whether for or against legalisation, who wish to ensure that their opinions are better informed. john keown is Senior Lecturer in the Law and Ethics of Medicine, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. His previous publications include Abortion, Doctors and the Law (1988) and Euthanasia Examined (1995). © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521804167 - Euthanasia, Ethics and Public Policy: An Argument Against...
Words: 3306 - Pages: 14
...Euthanasia on a Global View The term euthanasia is not heard normally in our North American society. To knowingly take your own life is looked down upon by the majority. It being seen as acts of the mentally ill and abused. To the majority, euthanasia is seen as a useless evil used give some people an unnecessary way out of their lives. To those on the other side this gives them a solution to suffering that they have endured. The rule prevails in the United States, as in Britain, that a person who kills another with his consent for merciful reasons, when that other person is suffering from a fatal and incurable disease, is guilty of murder or manslaughter; and the rule is the same if he provides the sufferer with the means of suicide. Apparently only in Texas is the position different; there, the act of providing the means of suicide is not an offense, but directly killing the sufferer is. (Williams 1957) The idea of euthanasia or the right to die is seen as taboo in our society. The idea of death is one that most of us choose to keep from our minds. There appear to be two main arguments against euthanasia that are widely acknowledged; it would eventually not only be for the “terminally ill” and it is a rejection of the importance and value of human life. (Euthanasia 2013) Those for euthanasia claim that it helps to end suffering for the terminally ill. The opposed counter this with the argument that “terminal” can be defined in many different ways. Dr. J. Kevorkian...
Words: 719 - Pages: 3
...own destiny? The topic of euthanasia is very controversial because it not only delves deeply into the debate over suicide itself, but also because it involves the question of power. Euthanasia is classified as voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary. The formal definition of euthanasia from Dictionary.com is “the act of putting to death painlessly, or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measure, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful disease or condition” (Euthanasia, 2012). Bill Muehlenberg produces a weekly commentary on issues of the day. In January 2002, he discussed his views on Euthanasia entitled, The Case against Euthanasia. Muehlenberg (2002), “euthanasia is not about making sick and dying people as pain free and comfortable as possible…euthanasia is about allowing other people – doctors, lawyers, even family members – to determine who should live and who should die” (para. 1). Muehlenberg, like many opponents of euthanasia see it as a power issue more than a self-moral issue. Meaning, he believes that making the sick comfortable and pain free falls under the umbrella of palliative care (Muehlenberg, 2002). However, if anyone is going to argue the case against euthanasia, we should argue all aspects of it, not just the areas that make us uncomfortable. In answer to Muehlenberg’s argument that making the sick comfortable and pain free is considered palliative care, this comment makes his argument misleading. If an individual...
Words: 565 - Pages: 3
...Moral Issue about Euthanasia Reflection Euthanasia is defined as the practice of ending a life prematurely in order to end pain and suffering. The process is also sometimes called Mercy Killing. Euthanasia can fall into several categories. Voluntary Euthanasia is carried out with the permission of the person whose life is taken. Involuntary euthanasia is carried out without permission, such as in the case of a criminal execution. The moral and social questions surrounding these practices are the most active fields of research in Bioethics today. Many Supreme Court cases, such as Gonzales v. Oregon and Baxter vs. Montana, also surround this issue. Voluntary euthanasia is typically performed when a person is suffering from a terminal illness and is in great pain. When the patient performs this procedure with the help of a doctor, the term assisted suicide is often used. It is also legal in the state of Oregon, Washington and Montana. Passive euthanasia is carried out by terminating a medication that is keeping a patient alive or not performing a life-saving procedure. Active euthanasia involves the administration of a lethal drug or otherwise actively ending the life. These two types of procedures carry different moral and social issues. Euthanasia Controversy My opinion or point of view about euthanasia,There is a lot of controversy surrounding the issue and whether or not it should be legal. From a legal standpoint, the Encyclopedia of American Law categorizes mercy killing as...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...Despite so, there are still groups of people who are apprehensive about legalizing euthanasia as they are worried that it may have negative implications. The article gives a detailed description of the requirements that must be met before a person is allowed to go through with assisted suicide. It also uses data to prove that safety measures put in place are being followed and there is barely any abuse of the law in places that legalize assisted suicide. Although voluntary euthanasia is still considered as murder, many doctors in Europe give patients or their family the choice of proceeding with treatment or undergoing passive euthanasia. The article also talks about the possible reasons why people opt for assisted suicide, including loss of independence, dignity, and more. The use of statistics shows that substantial research has been done by the author to prove his point, confirming it is a good source to support the legalization of assisted suicide. As “The Economist” is a reputable magazine, this source is credible and is unlikely to publish articles without prior research. Cassity, S. A. (2009). To Die or Not To Die: The History and Future of Assisted Suicide Laws in the U.S. Utah Law Review, 2009 (2), 515-523. The journal looks into the history of laws related to assisted suicide and its possible future in the United States. It makes a clear distinction between assisted suicide and euthanasia by explaining the methods used in each type to end the life of another. It also...
Words: 1759 - Pages: 8
...Euthanasia is a word coined from the Greek language, Eu meaning good or noble; Thanatos meaning death, in the seventeenth century by Francis Bacon to refer to an easy, painless, happy death. (Singer) Within euthanasia, there are two types. Active and passive. Active euthanasia occurs when a medical professional or another person deliberately does something to cause the death of a patient. Passive euthanasia occurs when a medical professional either stops doing something that is keeping a patient alive or they don’t do something necessary to keep a patient alive. Like switching off life support or disconnecting a feeding tube. A term that is commonly confused, but is similar to euthanasia, is physician assisted suicide. Although the results and reasoning’s behind each type of death is the same, they differ in the way that the death is administered. In euthanasia, the physician performs the intervention. Usually with a lethal dose of a powerful drug such as morphine or Pentobarbital. During physician assisted suicide, the drug, and means of delivery, are given to the patient by the physician. However, the patient accomplishes the act of injection. Leading to his or her own death (A General History Of Euthanasia) The first time euthanasia was reported on record was around 400BC by Suetonius, a Roman historian, while describing the death of Augustus Caesar. Although the actions of an easy, painless death have been used on hopeless patients since ancient times, these acts have been...
Words: 3117 - Pages: 13
... 2012 Persuasive Essay Euthanasia, Mercy Killing or Murder? Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are the methods for helping patients to release their pain and suffering by using either medication or other comfortable methods. There are many arguments about these issues had been rising up from many different aspects, such as the actual definition of euthanasia and its practice; the physicians’ responsibilities and opinions; and ethics and religions stance of euthanasia. In my opinion, euthanasia and physician assisted suicide should be prohibited completely in all hospitals. Euthanasia is a physician purposely kills a patient by drugs with the approval from that person. Euthanasia can divide into two categories: passive and active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is withdrawing any life-sustaining treatment (Palliate Medicine - 2011). In the other hand, active euthanasia is using drugs under administration of a physician. It can be voluntary, with the permission of the patients; involuntary, without a permission of a patient; and non-voluntary, with the permission of the second party due to the physical or mental condition of a patient (Health Policy – 2010). Involuntary is performing against the patient’s will, which is completely illegal. Active voluntary and non-voluntary are the main consideration of the society nowadays. One of the studies has shown the estimation of the percentage of deaths in the United Kingdom that involved euthanasia to be 0.16% (Palliative Medicine...
Words: 1187 - Pages: 5
...Euthanasia has raised controversy in the United States because of different views on societal, cultural, and religious ethics. Euthanasia is the killing of a person to end either horrible pain, slow death, or even some coma victims that have been in a vegetative state of a considerable amount of time. Even though I believe that euthanasia is murder, it should not be looked down upon because death should be a right for the victims and their families. The other side of the argument claims that it is immoral to kill even those who are suffering because it is God's decision who lives and who dies. Both sides of this ongoing debate have some compelling arguments. In order to understand why I am defending an action that I admit is murder requires the use of an example. If a pregnant woman is murdered and had planned on keeping her baby the murderer would be charged on a count of murder and a count of manslaughter. Now in a different scenario, If that same woman was killed on the way to an abortion clinic it would only be a count for murder, because the life dwelling inside of her was unwanted. Women are legally allowed to choose whether or not a fetus lives. Therefore, why would we allow someone to suffer when they have declare no will to live. Euthanasia and assisted suicide go together hand-in-hand. The difference between the two is that with assisted suicide the patient is guided through the process of killing themselves, but with euthanasia the physicians take a direct...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...Euthanasia is a unique practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal disease/illness or an incurable condition by means of the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment or lethal injection. The history of this penomena dates back for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1906 when the first bill to legalize euthanasia in America was introduced in the Ohio legislature. For several years, legislatures have been turning down bills aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In 1937, the Nebraska legislature voted down a bill legalizing voluntary active euthanasia in the U.S. Only two years later, the New York legislature rejected a bill that was also aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. “In 1991 the Washington State Initiative Bill legalizing voluntary euthanasia was narrowly defeated.” (6) In 1994, Oregon passed a law to allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs, but an injunction prevented it from taking effect. As of today, euthanasia is illegal in almost every country. In fact, it is only legal in the state of Oregon and the Netherlands. These are the only two places in the world where laws specifically permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. Oregon permits assisted suicide while the Netherlands permits both euthanasia and assisted suicide. In 1995, Australia’s northern territory approved a euthanasia bill which went into effect in 1996, but it was overturned by the Australian Parliament in 1997. “Also, in 1997...
Words: 2040 - Pages: 9
...Schuklenk (2015) describes euthanasia as a kind of killing performed to patients who are disabled or terminally ill as a result of irreversible coma or painful and incurable disease. One form of Euthanasia is the Physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide happens when a disabled or a terminally ill patients are assisted by a physician or other medical practitioner to terminate their own life, either by giving the patient instructions on the suicide method to use or giving a lethal drug prescription to commit suicide. Several European countries have accepted physician-assisted suicide practices and euthanasia. However, in the United States, physician-assisted suicide has only been legalized in five states. Currently, the United States has not legalized euthanasia, but a vigorous debate on whether all states should emphases physician-assisted suicide and legalize euthanasia is going on. However, what derails the legalization of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia is the controversial arguments...
Words: 940 - Pages: 4
...die, focusing on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. First, I will explain the meaning of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Euthanasia means a person who is suffering from terminally ill will be free from their illness or pain, and end their life by their own will. Physician-assisted suicide means the physician helps with the patient’s death. The problem of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide has been discussed all over the world these days, and I’m interested in the right to die, so I chose this topic. I have four questions for this topic. First, what countries are allowing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide? Second, how many people...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...of Ethics L. M. BSHS/322 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues In Human Service June 23, 2012 Dynamics of Ethics In today’s society many individuals are faced with having to choose between what is ethical and what is not. One thing that a remains pressing as it relates to ethical issues are the dynamics that surrounds them. In this paper I would like to discuss the current issues surrounding euthanasia. Implementing euthanasia comes with many compelling arguments, often times this issue involves individuals rights, politics, ethics, and religion. Although this debate is far from over I would like to take an objective view and discuss the ends and outs of euthanasia. Attempts to authorize euthanasia and assisted suicide have occurred in “the U.S for the last twenty years (Euthanasia in the United States Wikipedia, 2012).” For illustration in 2005 Religious Leaders committed to standing firm in their beliefs by stating “assisting suicide and euthanasia will radically change the social air we all breathe by severely undermining respect of life (Euthanasia in the United States, 2012).” Clearly leaders at this time strongly opposed allowing suffering individuals the right to end their life. “In 2006 The House of Lords blocked a bill that would allow terminally ill people to be helped to die” (BBC Ethics, 2012). This particular bill led to a heated discussion on whether or not it is right to allow people to take their own life. Joffe stated in a pressing debate that “we must...
Words: 1095 - Pages: 5
...Voluntary Euthanasia According to the Philosopher Helga Kuhse, she writes that 'Euthanasia' is a compound of two Greek words - eu and Thanatos. These words literally mean “a good death”. Today, 'euthanasia' is generally understood to mean the bringing about of a good death - 'mercy killing,' where one person, A, ends the life of another person, B, for the sake of B." Euthanasia is putting to death of a very sick person's life in order to alleviate them from their agony. A person that usually request for euthanasia services has an untreatable condition but there are special cases where some people want their life to end. In many situation, it is implemented when the patient ask for it but there are occasions when the patients is too ill and cannot make the decision themselves but the requests is made by relatives, medics or, in some instances, the courts. The country of United Kingdom’s law is against the practice of euthanasia and it is illegal to help anyone kill him or herself. The punishment of euthanasia can lead to detention of up to 14 years. This issue has been at the centre of very intense debates for many years and is surrounded by religious, ethical and practical considerations. Euthanasia have different categorize which include voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia is lawful in some countries such as United States Of America and Canadian Provinces. Non-voluntary euthanasia is banned in all countries because it is considered a murder...
Words: 2617 - Pages: 11
...THE CHURCH, EUTHANASIA and ASSISTED SUICIDE Euthanasia also known as “mercy killing” and assisted suicide are worldwide controversial issues. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word euthanasia comes from Greek, meaning easy death (eu: easy, thanatos: death). Euthanasia means to end the life of a person who is terminally ill or suffering from severe pain, in a deliberate way. At the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) webpage, in the section Ethics guides, under the title of Forms of Euthanasia, Religions and Death? (2009), different types of euthanasia are described, such as indirect, active, passive, voluntary, involuntary and non voluntary. On the other hand, assisted suicide is usually performed with the help of a health professional; that is why; it is usually called Physician Assisted Suicide (or PAS). The main controversy is over the different opinions on whether it is the sick patient’s decision or if it is a legal, ethical or religious issue to be considered by a third party. In order to practice assisted suicide in a country where it is legal, many factors should be present, such as the moral and religious beliefs of the patient and the physician or the patient’s family and the physician, as well as the legislation of the country where it is going to be carried out. At present, in countries where euthanasia is not legalized yet, it is very difficult to obtain legal permission to practice it. As regards the ethical...
Words: 2869 - Pages: 12
