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Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Is Not Murder

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Goatee 1
Mary Goatee
Professor Maroney
English 101
8 June 2011 Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide Is Not Murder! My personal opinion is that euthanasia or assisted suicide is not murder when a person is already suffering and dying. Euthanasia is translated from Greek as “good death” or “easy death.” Euthanasia occurs when one person ends the life of another person for the purpose of ending the killed person's pain or suffering. Assisted suicide is closely related to euthanasia. An assisted suicide occurs when one person gives another person the instructions and means to commit the suicide themselves. A few proposals to legalize euthanasia were made in the United States and Germany during the latter portion of the nineteenth century. Now, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg are the only jurisdictions in the world where laws specifically permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. The strongest argument made on behalf of legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide is that it, like abortion, is a “choice issue.” It is a persons ultimate civil right. The possibility of a predictable escape from suffering if it becomes overwhelming is important to many patients. To deprive a mentally competent, terminally ill person who wants to end their suffering in a peaceful way is disrespecting their civil rights. Over 90% of people with terminal illness will endure their situation, but between 5 and 10% find it intolerable and request euthanasia. Have you ever watched a person suffer terribly before finally dying? I have, and it is something I will never forget. I watched my father and my mother both die from lung cancer. Goatee 2
I have sat with a person in

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