Death With Dignity: A Look at Legalizing Euthanasia
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Should human beings be allowed to determine how and when they die? This is an issue that is often brought up when discussing the controversial topic of euthanasia. Euthanasia translates to literally mean “good death” in Ancient Greek and refers to the practice of ending a life, typically through lethal incision or injection (Wikipedia).
While most forms of euthanasia are illegal in the United States, Oregon is presently the only state that has legalized physician-assisted suicide. According to an article in the New York Times published in May 2008, however, there has been a push by Washington governor, Booth Gardner to make Washington State the second state in the U.S. to legalize euthanasia. Gardner is heading a ballot, which if approved will:
allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of narcotics to terminally ill patients who want to end their own lives.
Gardner, along with 80% of other Americans believe that a person’s right to die is a personal decision. In February 2008, ELDR Magazine commissioned the help of Knowledge Networks to conduct a national survey of adults on questions related to the right to die. In May of 2008, the magazine released the results of the “Right to Die” survey, which showed that only half of adults over the age of 60 have a living will or advance health care directive. Other results of the survey pointed out that 82% of adults want the option of being sedated into unconsciousness if they were suffering at the end of their lives, even if this meant that it might hasten their death. To see the full results of the survey, you can click here.
Types of Euthanasia
- Euthanasia by Consent
- voluntary
- involuntary
- Euthanasia by Means
- Passive: (i.e. withholding medication, knowing that it may result in death- most commonly used method in hospitals)
- Non-Aggressive: (i.e. withdrawing life support- also used in hospitals and is much more controversial)
- Aggressive: (i.e. using lethal substances to kill someone- most controversial)
- Other Forms of Euthanasia
- Mercy Killing
- Animal Euthanasia
Reasons For & Against It (according to Wikipedia)
For:
- Choice
- Quality of Life
- Economic Costs and Human Resources
Against:
- Professional Role
- Moral
- Theological
- Feasibility of Implementation
- Necessity
- Wishes of Family
- Consent Under Pressure
Some proponents of euthanasia argue that we euthanize pets to put them out of their misery; therefore, it should be no different for humans? What do you think about euthanasia?
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The right to life is as important as the right to death. Some people wake up everyday living in complete misery and pain, and if they wish for death, to deny them that right is abuse. I don’t care if that is against someone’s religious beliefs from faraway, because it is not their life in question, they don’t know the person, nor should it be any of their concern. Sally in Kentucky, who happens to be a extremist Christian, shouldn’t decide the fate of Bob who is dying of painful cancer in California and wishes for Euthanasia.