The Euthanasia Debate Essay - 1290 Words

Humans, like all animals, attempt to evade death. Though death is usually seen as an unwanted end, some see it as an alternative to suffering. Most people cringe at the thought of suicide, but is euthanasia the same thing? Do human beings have the right to choose death? â€Å"Americans have developed a paradoxical relationship with death-we know more about the causes and conditions surrounding death, but we have not equipped ourselves emotionally to cope with dying and death (Bender and B. Leone).† Death is a scary subject for all humans. And death caused by oneself, or suicide, is even scarier. Suicide on a medical terms, or euthanasia, confuses many people. It poses many moral questions to humans: should it be allowed? How is this†¦show more content†¦This has three subgroups: Nonvoluntary euthanasia, which is done when the patient is incapable of deciding, involuntary euthanasia, which is done to end the suffering of a capable patient, and voluntary euthanas ia, which is done at the patients request (Yount). A broader term many people assign these two acts to is suicide. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines suicide as â€Å"the act of killing yourself because you do not want to continue living.† Euthanasia is a form of suicide, but the two differ in their motives for death. People have taken their lives for a vase array of reasons, for protest, revenge, to end despair, madness, pain, honor, illness, social situations, and many others. (Williams-Boyd) Are all or any of these reasons justified? Perhaps in the minds of those who attempted the taboo they are. To the â€Å"average,† life loving human they are most likely not. A common proverb to prevent suicide is â€Å"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.† Some find meaning in this; others see its logical flaws. What if the problem isn’t temporary? To many suicidal people, the problem is life. Most people, who have problems with life, mos t likely have deeper, psychological issues. And those issues are truly the problem, but â€Å"ignorance is bliss,† and people overlook their small problems and blame life. Most suicidal people can find help, if they choose to put in the effort to change. I have witnessed someone go from a suicidal, emotionalShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Of Euthanasia And Euthanasia1429 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION: The debate of euthanasia is an ongoing one that’s shrouded with much controversy and ambiguity regarding the ethics of it in contemporary Australian society. However, the frequency of this topic being debated by physicians, influential figures and the media has become more prominent now than ever. In particular, in association with its impending legislation within Australian states. (The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists,2012) Various types of euthanasia are recognisedRead MoreThe Euthanasia Debate1211 Words   |  5 PagesEuthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a terminally ill patient by means of lethal injection by a doctor in a controlled medical environment. Similarly, physician assisted suicide (PAS) is when a patient requests a lethal prescription from a doctor or pharmacist to end their life before a fatal disease does. The two are akin to each other and are almost interchangeable in definitions. Being a highly controversial topic, th ere is a plethora of arguments surrounding PAS, all very emotionallyRead MoreThe Debate About Euthanasia And Euthanasia1631 Words   |  7 PagesThe debates about euthanasia date all the way back to the 12th century. During this time, Christian values increased the public’s opinion against euthanasia. The church taught its followers that euthanasia not only injured individual people and their communities, but also violated God’s authority over life. This idea spread far and wide throughout the public until the 18th century when the renaissance and reformation writers attacked the church and its teachings. However, the public did not pay muchRead More The Euthanasia Debate Essay1583 Words   |  7 PagesA long, ongoing battle in the institutional review boards, ethics committee and in the United states federal court is Physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia. PAS refers to â€Å"a third part action informed by the intended objective (at the very least) to fur nish a potential suicide with the lethal means necessary to end his or her bodily life† (Parteson 11). There are victims suffering in silence because of this issue and it calls for immediate action with a federal regulated law. The victimsRead MoreThe Debate Concerning The Morality Of Euthanasia915 Words   |  4 PagesAmericans , arguably more than any other nationality, have a right to their opinion and there exists few subjects that generate more opinions than does euthanasia. The debate concerning the morality of euthanasia parsimoniously rests on the moral assessment of whether or not the physician intentionally kills or intentionally let die the patient. An assumption has been perpetuated that there is a line of demarcation between intending to let die and intending to kill. This pseudo-practical barrierRead MoreThe Debate On Euthanasia Is Never Ending1263 Words   |  6 Pages The debate on euthanasia is never ending. It is an important topic that debates whether assisted death is ethical or In spite of this euthanasia is not discriminatory towards the mentally ill. They are reasons and law Euthanasia is ‘painless inducement of a quick death’. It is is a long living debate that challenges the morality of life. Due to its high controversy only certain countries have legalised the procedure however they have strict rules and procedures that must be followed. InRead MoreCritical Reflection : The Euthanasia Debate1652 Words   |  7 PagesReflection: The Euthanasia Debate Medical advancements and improved living conditions worldwide have increased the life span of our population (U.S. Department of State, 2015). As a result, many individuals are now living with degenerative or chronic ailments that require increased support (Vissers et al., 2013). Unfortunately, these illnesses often come with a â€Å"diminished quality of life† (Butler, Tiedemann, Nicol, Valiquet, 2013). These issues have brought forth the euthanasia debate, which posesRead MoreEssay about The Debate Over Euthanasia1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Debate Over Euthanasia The controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. Society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for good death, refers to the act of ending another person’s life in order to end their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the person’s life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patient’s lifeRead MoreEssay on The Debate of Euthanasia Legalization in Britain980 Words   |  4 PagesThe Debate of Euthanasia Legalization in Britain The term ‘Euthanasia’ comes from the Greek word for ‘easy death’. Is that not how we would like our end to be? Unfortunately, Euthanasia is one of the most controversial issues being debated about in society today. Formally called ‘mercy killing’, euthanasia is the act of purposely making or helping someone to die, instead of allowing nature to take it’s course. Basically, euthanasia means killing in the name of compassionRead MoreThe Ethical Debate On Non Voluntary Euthanasia963 Words   |  4 PagesThe ethical debate on non-voluntary euthanasia is a complex issue due to its multifaceted nature. This topic examines the morality of ending a human’s life in circumstances where the person is incapable of issuing explicit consent. These cases would include utilizing euthanasia on very young children or someone in a vegetative state. There lacks consent with young children since they cannot speak to provide consent. Explicit consent is lacking with someone in a vegetative state since they are