People Against Euthanasia example essay topic

The term euthanasia is the Greek word for "easy death". It is one of the most public policy issues being debated about today. Formally called "mercy killing", euthanasia is the act of purposely making or helping someone die, instead of letting nature take its course. Euthanasia can be split into three types; it can be voluntary, positive or passive. Voluntary is when there is a request by the dying patient or their legal representative. Passive involves, doing nothing to prevent death and just allowing someone to die whereas positive is taking deliberate action to cause death.

At the moment euthanasia is illegal throughout the world apart from in the state of Oregon, where there is a law specifically allowing doctors to prescribe lethal drugs for the purpose of euthanasia. Also in the Netherlands it is practiced widely, although in fact it remains illegal. The issue of euthanasia is very debatable and many people have their own views for and against the issue. The main view of those who are for euthanasia is that everyone has the right to choose how they live, and how they die. They believe everyone deserves respect, freedom and the power to control their own destiny.

Not everyone will have an easy death. Some terminal pain cannot be controlled, even with the best of care and the strongest of drugs. Some people may suffer from distressing symptoms, which comes with disease, such as; sickness, no mobility, incontinence, breathlessness and fever that cannot always be relieved. However those for euthanasia do not think pain is always the issue they believe quality of life is too. Most people would want to die with dignity, but some people may spend the last moments of their life, in a way which to them is undignified. Having the right of control over their own life and death helps people keep human dignity in the face of their suffering, and this is why those pro- euthanasia feel that it is right.

Those for euthanasia have a strong view that people should not be left lingering in pain when death is inevitable. Those in opposition of this view would however say euthanasia is suicide, that it is tragic and an individual act. However believers of euthanasia do not see it as suicide, and would say it is not a private act. In many cases where euthanasia is involved you have the support of family and friends. One case that would show this is Diane Pretty's story. Diane had motor neuron disease and was paralyzed from the neck down.

She wanted her husband Brian to assist her in her own death. However in Britain it would be illegal to attempt to help her end her life, and Brian could face upto fourteen years in jail for doing so. Those for euthanasia can show from this case that euthanasia is about letting a person assist another's death to save them from a long painful death, which is what Brian Pretty wanted. This is not the only argument people have for the use of euthanasia however. Another argument is the cost that an illness such as P.V. S (persistent vegetative state) has on the health service, as well as the emotional cost to the individual and their family. Obviously, the pain of loosing a close relative or loved one is indescribable, but the person is gone and people come to terms with it.

Often a larger trauma causing more grief, is having to watch that person suffer while you look on helplessly, and there is no chance of there condition improving. When that person does finally die their relatives good memories may be overrun by the thoughts of that persons last few days of suffering. Those who suffer from P.V. S can cost in America as much as $7 billion annually. Most people who agree with euthanasia believe this is to high a price to pay for a life of someone that is inevitably going to die anyway and not be able to fulfill a full life in the physical state they are in. The feeling is that people who suffer from an illness such as p. vs. 's, should be allowed to have their legal representative or close relative choose to let them die in dignity. On the other hand though, not everyone would agree with this argument.

Many people against euthanasia argue that a person who is diagnosed as terminally ill might have a miraculous recovery, it has happened in the past. One story I found which would prove this point is the story of someone who was paralyzed from the head down for over 24 years from the result of a car crash. He suffered a broken a neck and spinal cord injury. When he regained consciousness three days after the accident, he was in hospital paralyzed from the neck down. He had a collapsed left lung and crushed left collarbone. The doctor told him that he wasn't supposed to have lived as long as he had and would most likely die shortly.

Never the less this same man managed to make it into rehab where he was then told his best hope was 15 more years paralyzed, confined to his wheelchair. He surprised all the doctors by going on to live semi-independently for 23 years, he graduated from university and became a journalist. He states that during rehab he felt as if he couldn't go on and if euthanasia was possible he would have probably ended his life, but now from the amazing recovery he has had he has gone on to have a full and prosperous life. People against euthanasia feel if it was legalized then many mistakes would be made, as some people do recover from what was thought to be a terminal disease, even when doctors least expect, just like in this case. Another point consistently raised in this debate is that when a sick or elderly patient asks for euthanasia, it can sometimes be caused by emotional and physiological pressures. How can someone be sure it is what they really want and not just because they feel a burden on their families?

A lot of people believe that if voluntary euthanasia was legalized, society would soon allow involuntary euthanasia. This is based on the idea that if we change the law to allow a person to help someone die we would not be able to control it. They believe if there were to be a law like this, there would have to be very strict rules, which involved the patient having knowledge of the whole process. A great effort would have to go into making sure the patient is not forced into it and also that they are mentally able to make the decision, which would be hard in cases of some elderly who may be suffering from mental disease. Should we allow people the choice to live or die?

The debate about euthanasia comes up all the time, even when it is not publicized it is still happening. As an issue euthanasia refuses to die. Everyone has their own opinion on it, with many people wanting to see a change in the law. People may agree or disagree but in my opinion, who can really know what they feel about the issue until they are actually in that situation.

At the moment I believe that if I was faced with a terminally ill relative who was in a great deal of pain and wanted to die, I would not want to see them suffer. This is only what I think now, perhaps I would hold a different view if I was actually in that situation. This issue needs a lot of thought. The time will inevitably come when the government and the medical services will have to open their eyes to euthanasia, and there will be a lot of debate on the subject. Until then however the euthanasia debate will like a terminal disease, continue to linger.