Human Euthanasia

Euthanasia comes from the Greek word Eu-Thantos, meaning “easy death” or “well-death.” Today, human euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide, tends to have a negative connotation. However, in modern society, human euthanasia is meant to be performed on terminally ill patients who are in unbearable suffering or poor physical condition, making the patient’s quality of life inhumane. Contrary to popular belief, human euthanasia is not murder; it is assisting a patient in dying with dignity. Even though everyone is entitled to die with dignity, our society does not condone this. Those opposed to this practice argue the religious morality of it. Most patients suffering from a terminal illness or debilitating disease are in favor of euthanasia. The Supreme Court, however, has gone back and forth in recent years as to the legality of human euthanasia. Anyone who is suffering should be able to have the ultimate say as to whether or not they continue to live in pain, or die quietly with dignity. For terminally ill Americans such as those suffering from end stage cancers, AIDS, and Lou Gehrig’s Disease, among others, assisted suicide is not an option, unless they reside in Washington, Oregon, and as of 2009, Montana. In these three states, when death is foreseen within the next six months, and the pain is becoming too much, a patient has the right to request euthanasia. They must be over eighteen, as well as verified by two doctors to be of sound mind. However, with the process they have to go through to obtain the suicide drugs, they might be better off finding an alternative method.
Most of those opposed to human euthanasia are opposed to it because of their religious beliefs. These people are predominantly right- wing Christian fanatics. They believe that only God should be in control of when someone lives or dies. The religious right- winged