Euthanasia Today Essay Research Paper Euthanasia has free essay sample

Euthanasia Today Essay, Research Paper Euthanasia has been, and ever will be, a controversial lesson and ethical topic. While the bulk of both Americans and Canadians seem to back up mercy killing as indicated by the latest polls, it is still illegal in both states. I think it is of import to first distinguish between inactive mercy killing and active mercy killing. Passive mercy killing is the fillet or non get downing some intervention which allows a individual to decease. Active mercy killing, the more controversial of the two, is making something such as administrating a deadly drug or utilizing other agencies that cause a individual # 8217 ; s decease. My chief focal point will be on active mercy killing. A premier illustration of active mercy killing is the Robert Latimer instance. Latimer was given a life sentence with no opportunity of word for ten old ages after being convicted of 2nd degree slaying in the # 8220 ; mercy killing # 8221 ; of his badly handicapped girl. We will write a custom essay sample on Euthanasia Today Essay Research Paper Euthanasia has or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I will discourse grounds why some people support mercy killing, why others oppose it, and so offer my ain sentiment. Peoples who support mercy killings believe that terminally sick patients have the right to decease with regard and self-respect. They believe it is the lone humane, merciful pick for those # 8220 ; populating to decease # 8221 ; . Euthanasia for them would supply freedom from the guilt of being a load to health professionals. From the health professionals perspective it is besides the lone humane pick. Many of them see it as the ultimate act of love because of the effects of that action. Supporters of mercy killing besides argue that widening the life of a terminally sick patient by unreal agencies is unethical. That is, physicians are? playing God? when they resist the natural patterned advance of a fatal disease when there is no remedy or hope of one. In add-on, they argue that current medicines for hurting and alleviative attention for the death are unequal. Argu ments against mercy killing are many. The most controversial, of class, is the spiritual belief that life is sacred and enduring is an of import portion of every human life. From a moral and legal position, active mercy killing is an act of murder because murder, by definition, is an unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. Euthanasia, then, violates a person’s right to be protected from harm. From a medical standpoint, there are several reasons not to support it. First of all, euthanasia is contrary to a doctor?s oath to save lives. Secondly, suffering can be alleviated medically in most cases. Psychotherapy is a valuable tool in coping with the depression that accompanies terminal illness. In addition, in cases where a patient is semi-conscious, there is no certainty that consent is voluntary. Then there is always the possibility of a mistaken diagnosis. Sometimes patients experience a complete remission from their illness. There is also the possibility of a new cure being discovered. Finally, if euthanasia is legalized, there is the danger that doctors could abuse it. I support euthanasia in certain situations where the pain in a terminal illness cannot be controlled and the damage from the illness is irreversible. In these cases, a panel of doctors should be available to help patients and their families make the choice that is right for them. Never, under any circumstances, should a parent of other person have the right to make a life-death decision when the patient is unable to make the decision for himself/herself. One exception is when doctors ask parents to make that decision where â€Å"preemies† or newborns have no chance of survival. The other, of course, is when a person is â€Å"brain dead†. Homicide is acceptable in cases of self-defense, therefore, I believe euthanasia should be acceptable as an act of mercy in certain cases. I don’t know if legalizing euthanasia is the answer because of the possible abuse of the law. Perhaps, changing the homicide law to allow euthanasia under strict conditions would be a better solution. Perhaps, putting it to a referendum would be the only answer. I hope that I will never be confronte d with this choice, but in my heart I know that I would make the right one, because it would be made out of love.