Euthanasia

Euthanasia


        Mark T. Maxwell

Abstract

This paper will define Euthanasia and assisted suicide.   Euthanasia is often
confused with and associated with assisted suicide, definitions of the two are
required.   Two perspectives shall be presented in this paper.   The first
perspective will favor euthanasia or the "right to die," the second perspective
will favor antieuthanasia, or the "right to live".   Each perspective shall
endeavor to clarify the legal, moral and ethical ramifications or aspects of
euthanasia.

Thesis Statement

Euthanasia, also mercy killing, is the practice of ending a life so as to
release an individual from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering.
Euthanasia is a merciful means to and end of long-term suffering.   Euthanasia is
a relatively new dilemma for the United States and has gained a bad reputation
from negative media hype surrounding assisted suicides.   Euthanasia has a
purpose and should be evaluated as humanely filling a void created by our
sometimes inhumane modern society.

Antithesis Statement

Euthanasia is nothing less than cold-blooded killing.   Euthanasia cheapens life,
even more so than the very divisive issue of abortion.   Euthanasia is morally
and ethically wrong and should be banned in these United States.   Modern
medicine has evolved by leaps and bounds recently, euthanasia resets these
medical advances back by years and reduces today's Medical Doctors to
administrators of death.

Euthanasia defined

The term Euthanasia is used generally to refer to an easy or painless
death. Voluntary euthanasia involves a request by the dying patient or that
person's legal representative.   Passive or negative euthanasia involves not
doing something to prevent death—that is, allowing someone to die; active or
positive euthanasia involves taking deliberate action to cause a death.
Euthanasia is often mistaken or associated with for assisted suicide,   a
distant cousin of euthanasia, in which a person wishes to commit suicide... [continues]

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