Euthanasia; Pros and Cons
‘Euthanasia: Pros and Cons’
Euthanasia is the practise of ending another person’s life in order to end them suffering. The person would feel no pain, and the word ‘euthanasia’ was first used to describe a painless, easy and happy death. Seeing a loved one in pain is something which no one wishes for, so most people would try to end someone they love’s suffering, even if that means ending their life. However, not everyone would, as this is a very controversial subject, and the act remains illegal in the UK.
The Suicide Act of 1961 is the legal system which states that any person who assists in the suicide of another should be imprisoned for up to 14 years. However, polling in Great Britain showed that around 80% of British citizens and 64% of British General Practitioners are in favour of euthanasia being legalised. Even though the majority of the public would agree to the law being passed, in 1997, British Parliament voted 234 to 89 to defeat the 7th attempt to legalise the act. One of the main arguments for declining the law is religious beliefs, as many believe that only God has the right to take and give life, and some people believe if euthanasia was legalised, it would provide a loophole for murdering a person who did not want to die.
There are many arguments for and against Euthanasia and assisted suicide. A strong argument in favour of euthanasia is the loss of the quality of life due to terminal illness. However, there are many people living in this world who would rather be dead than suffer one of these illnesses. One example of this is the case of Tony Nicklinson. Tony suffered ‘locked in syndrome’ as the aftermath of a stroke. A sufferer of this syndrome is completely unable to move or do anything for themselves, but they are completely aware of everything that is going on around them. Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation- using electricity to stimulate the muscle reflexes- could have helped Tony Nicklinson regain some of his functions, but
Euthanasia is the practise of ending another person’s life in order to end them suffering. The person would feel no pain, and the word ‘euthanasia’ was first used to describe a painless, easy and happy death. Seeing a loved one in pain is something which no one wishes for, so most people would try to end someone they love’s suffering, even if that means ending their life. However, not everyone would, as this is a very controversial subject, and the act remains illegal in the UK.
The Suicide Act of 1961 is the legal system which states that any person who assists in the suicide of another should be imprisoned for up to 14 years. However, polling in Great Britain showed that around 80% of British citizens and 64% of British General Practitioners are in favour of euthanasia being legalised. Even though the majority of the public would agree to the law being passed, in 1997, British Parliament voted 234 to 89 to defeat the 7th attempt to legalise the act. One of the main arguments for declining the law is religious beliefs, as many believe that only God has the right to take and give life, and some people believe if euthanasia was legalised, it would provide a loophole for murdering a person who did not want to die.
There are many arguments for and against Euthanasia and assisted suicide. A strong argument in favour of euthanasia is the loss of the quality of life due to terminal illness. However, there are many people living in this world who would rather be dead than suffer one of these illnesses. One example of this is the case of Tony Nicklinson. Tony suffered ‘locked in syndrome’ as the aftermath of a stroke. A sufferer of this syndrome is completely unable to move or do anything for themselves, but they are completely aware of everything that is going on around them. Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation- using electricity to stimulate the muscle reflexes- could have helped Tony Nicklinson regain some of his functions, but