Euthanasia

Thomas Jefferson once said, "The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government."(Euthanasia). Euthanasia is related to this because it is the destruction of human life, and in today's society, medications can alleviate pain, a request for euthanasia is typically a cry for help, and suicide is typically transient. So therefore, there is no reason why euthanasia should be legalized.

With today's modern technology, euthanasia being an escape from pain is a poor argument for euthanasia advocates. Modern medicines have the ability to control mild to extreme pain. From over the counter drugs such as Aspirin, Tylenol and Advil, to common narcotics such as Morphine, Codeine and Oxycodone. All of these medications, some better than others, work towards the same goal of alleviating pain. However, if the pain starts at a nerve, the narcotics and other drugs are less effective and a nerve block must be performed. This is when, similar to the dentist, an anaesthetic is injected into the area around the nerve, preventing pain impulses from the nerve being delivered to the brain or spinal cord. The narcotics work in a slightly different way. For example, Codeine alters your perception of pain and reaction to it by acting on your central nervous system. Morphine "scrambles" pain messages in your spinal cord and brain, and Oxycodone works on your central nervous system by altering your sense of pain and your emotional response to it. People seeking to kill themselves to avoid pain do not need legalized euthanasia, but a doctor better trained in alleviating pain (Choosing).

A request for assisted suicide by terminally ill patients is typically a cry for help. Many people who ask for assisted suicide, actually most of them, have clinical depression. In fact, in one study, of the 24 percent of terminally ill patients who requested death, all had clinical depression (Euthanasia). Not only were most... [continues]

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