...Euthanasia is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient's intolerable and incurable suffering. Physician-assisted suicide occurs when a physician facilitates a patient's death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act (AMA Policy on End-of-Life). Due to the fact that this is a controversial subject, it is not widely accepted by many. As of right now, euthanasia is only legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg, and assisted suicide is only legal in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Albania and in the American states of Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico Washington, and Montana. We control the course of our own...
Words: 1376 - Pages: 6
...Assisted Death for the Terminally Ill – Yes or No? (2012, October 20). Over my dead body; Assisted suicide. The Economist, 405(8807), 55(US). This article recognizes the increasing acceptance of assisted suicide amongst the public and across the world. 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...
Words: 1759 - Pages: 8
...Euthanasia: Live and Let Die April 11, 2013 Euthanasia: Live and Let Die In 2004, Pope John Paul II said “A man, even if seriously sick or prevented in the exercise of its higher functions, is and will be always a man… he will never become a ‘vegetable’ or an ‘animal’. The intrinsic value and personal dignity of every human being does not change depending on their circumstances” (Pope John Paul II, 2004). Euthanasia or assisted suicide is the deliberate action of ending a life in order to relieve unstoppable suffering. Euthanasia is legal in Albania, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, as well as some US states. In some of these countries, euthanasia is generally executed by a medical professional taking into account his patient’s needs and desires; but sometimes a medical professional can dispense the last medication ending his patient’s life without the patient’s consent. However, euthanasia and assisted suicide is forbidden in the majority of countries and could be penalized by a fourteen years prison sentence. (“Euthanasia and assisted, intro”). Legalizing euthanasia is extremely controversial moral and legal issue throughout the world, but achieving that goal is extremely necessary. Although legalizing euthanasia could cause negative effects for society, the positive side of this controversy indicates that asking for death is important for those patients who have decided that after a certain point, the pain has exceeded the desire of living. On the one hand...
Words: 1548 - Pages: 7
...P393 26 June 2013 Put Out to Pasture: The Problem with Euthanasia I have decided to write my paper on Euthanasia as the topic elicits all types of opinions and conversion on the matter. It is definitely a hot button topic when it comes to Ethical dilemmas, theories, principles, and how society should precede with this in application of law and legislation. I believe that allowing for Euthanasia globally and nationally will begin to further erode the very moral and ethical fiber that separates man from animal. I further support my stand with the example of abortion, and even though opinion hasn’t changed much in the 40 years since Roe vs. Wade allowed for abortion to take place, still millions of babies have been killed despite to negative opinions about it. My hypothesis on this issue is that if nationally legalized it would lead to an untold amount of elderly, handicapped, ill, poor, and lonely people vulnerable to being put to death against their wishes and before their time. The aim of this paper it too show that indeed legalizing “Euthanasia” or “Patient Assisted Suicide” would indeed lead us down the “slippery slope. This first step for me in this paper would be to talk about the theories and principles behind not being pro-euthanasia. There are a number of ethical principles that are deontological in nature, are part of the natural moral law, and relevant to the kinds of dilemmas that occur in euthanasia cases.Four of them are as follows: 1. The Principle of Autonomy...
Words: 3593 - Pages: 15
...Suicide is not cowardly. On the contrary, cowardice has nothing to do with the decision of a person wanting to commit suicide. Suicide is the courage to relieve oneself from the pain that others cannot relieve. Let me tell you something that is cowardly- ignoring the fact that a person is in so much physical pain and not doing anything to help them. Physician-assisted suicide has seemed to be a very controversial topic, but relieving someone from their pain should not be a topic that should be publicly discussed. Life and death are a very personal thing, and only you can have an opinion about your own life and death. Since no one has the right to tell you how to live your life, no one except for you should have the right to make an input on...
Words: 819 - Pages: 4
...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
...Should Physician-assisted suicide be legalized in Canada? Introduction The topic of legalizing Physician-assisted suicide has long been a controversial issue in Canada and has recently received increased attention. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the provisions of the Criminal Code prohibiting assisted suicide. Two decades later, the Supreme Court of Canada began to deliberate whether to uphold or strike down the law prohibiting doctor-assisted suicide. Last month, the nine justices of the Supreme Court heard impassioned pleas for overturning Canada’s absolute prohibition against assisted suicide, with proponents arguing laws that consider the act equivalent to murder are a violation of personal autonomy and infringe the Charter of Rights and Freedom that provides for “life, liberty and security of the person” (Connor, 2014). The hearing sparked fresh debates across the country. Opponents argue that legalizing physician-assisted suicide would lead society down a dangerous "Slippery Slope" that leads to involuntary euthanasia and the killing of people who are thought undesirable. In addition, opponents argue that legalizing physician-assisted suicide gives too much power to doctors and it may reduce the availability of palliative care. The aim of this paper is to make a comprehensive argument in favor of physician-assisted suicide. Physician-Assisted suicide & Euthanasia Physician-assisted suicide occurs for any situation where doctors use drugs or other methods...
Words: 2164 - Pages: 9
...Running Head: Arguments Arguments PHI208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning Instructor: September 22, 2014 Arguments 2 Arguments Physician Assisted suicide or euthanasia, is also distinguished as mercy killing. Euthanasia is the act to place a person to death devoid of pain or permitting a person to die, as by persistence of severe medical measures, a person distressed from a, precise terminal painful, disease or circumstance (Beauchamp, 1999). Physician Assisted suicide is the exercise of killing or taking somebody’s life. A lot of doctors and people feel that in these distinct conditions it is the finest thing to do, consecutively to sustain a person from hurt and suffering. The actuality that euthanasia or physician assisted suicide is the ending life of a person brings with reference to the issue should it be legal or illegal (McDougall, 2000)? People's sovereignty or self-determination is a significant perception in the debate on make lawful euthanasia. Proponents dispute that the prohibition on euthanasia inflicts too great a restriction on the person's capacity for directing the end of her or his life and what nature death will take. On the other hand, Opponents, dispute that self-determination would be fake autonomy with value to euthanasia, or that self-determination concerning euthanasia must not weigh additional profoundly than the law of not killing. Euthanasia is identified as the practice of intentionally ending a life which liberates an...
Words: 1729 - Pages: 7
...had the prospect of a slow and painful death, and eventual complete paralysis, while remaining mentally competent throughout the process. Therefore, Sue requested the right to participate in voluntary euthanasia to have the option to end her own life with dignity. The law in Canada prohibits physician assisted suicide, so she challenged the law in court. However, the British Columbian court ruled in majority against Rodriguez. Rodriguez then appealed the court’s decision to the Supreme Court of British Columbia but the court had dismissed her appeal to participate in voluntary euthanasia with one dissenting judge and forwarded it to the parliament. The final decision made by the parliament was brought before the supreme court of Canada, which resulted in a 5-4 majority decision in favor of the current law that criminalized physician assisted suicide. Sue Rodriguez case embodies a serious ethical dilemma. It raised many philosophical and moral issues; this essay will analyze the various issues that justify the Supreme Court of Canada’s majority decision verses the dissenting judges. The key arguments that Rodriguez made in court were section 241(b) of the criminal code of Canada. Section 241(b) states that: anyone who aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years. She elucidated that this law violated her right to life, liberty and security of the person...
Words: 1991 - Pages: 8
...Running Head: Euthanasia Legalization and Society Euthanasia and Society By Tammy Sanchez Instructor: Gwen Remington Com/220 Death is an evitable part of life. Death is also the only guarantee we come into this world with. Facing the end of life may not be so clear. There have been numerous debates about the morality or assisted suicide and euthanasia for at least generations. Is it right or wrong for a physician to assist in ending the life of a terminally ill patient? The argument here would be whether for or against euthanasia and whether it is ethical or unethical act. When dealing with physicians assisted suicide, or euthanasia and society, there are many issues to discuss. But first let us define the two key words “Suicide and “Murder.” Both of these terms will play a significant role in determining whether or not physician assisted suicide is right or wrong. The word “Suicide” means to deliberately kill oneself, which could stem from several factors such as a mental and bipolar disorder, depression, drug abuse, schizophrenia, financial, relationships and alcoholism. According to the Webster’s New World Dictionary third edition defines “Murder” as an “unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another; kill inhumanly or barbarously, as in warfare.” When she or she is convicted of committing murder is punished by serving a life sentence in imprisonment or death by a lethal ingestion. When a self inflicted injury...
Words: 2072 - Pages: 9
...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
... 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 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
...Grand Canyon University Nrs-437 November 7, 2015 Nurses have been playing very important roles in the caring of patients throughout the continuum of life and at the end of life for years. It is the position of the ANA that participation of nurses in euthanasia is prohibited as those acts are in contradiction of the code of ethics for nurses. Nurses have a duty to provide humane, comprehensive and compassionate care in respect to the rights of patients, but maintain the standard of the profession in the presence of chronic, debilitating illness and at the end of life. Voluntary euthanasia is the act of taking a life painlessly especially to relief suffering from an incurable illness, with the consent of a dying patient. Denying people such wishes can lead to unnecessary suffering. There are two types of euthanasia; involuntary, where patients refuse to consent and non-voluntary, patients unable to consent. Euthanasia can have great impact on the society. It affects everyone one way or another. Although a person has autonomy to make decisions about his end of life care doesn’t take away from the fact that their family and friends will be affected with guilt, anger and bitterness. Voluntary euthanasia can hamper efforts to advance medical research in finding cures for diseases (Saunders, 2011). As the nurse taking care of a terminally ill patient, the husband confides in you that he promised his dying wife that he would assist her in taking her own life when the...
Words: 2650 - Pages: 11
...author of “Definitions of Euthanasia,” physician-assisted suicide is when a, “Medical doctor helping patient to die by prescribing a lethal overdose.” Although there are many guidelines that have to be followed for a patient to be considered for physician-assisted suicide, it still should not be legal. Kayla Asbury argues in her article “The Right to Die: Benefits of Physician-Assisted Suicide” that, “dying with dignity is a right everyone should be afforded.” However, many people argue that physician-assisted suicide is not moral and should not be preformed under any circumstance. In Asbury’s article she time and time again explains why she believes physician-assisted suicide should be legal. Asbury’s main argument...
Words: 725 - Pages: 3
