The Legalization of Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide
The Legalization of Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide Krista Tzanopoulos
There are currently only a few countries in the world have recognized the fundamental human right to bodily control by legalizing assisted suicide, however it is practiced almost everywhere, whether legal or not. The word “euthanasia” is translated from Greek and literally means “good death” or “easy death” (Smith, 2002). Euthanasia, also referred to as “assisted suicide”, is the act of a person (most often a physician) intentionally taking someone else’s life in order to eliminate or prevent severe pain (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, 2008). There are three types of euthanasia; voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary (this essay only encourages voluntary) (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, 2008). Euthanasia is frowned upon in most societies around the world for moral, ethical and religious reasons - but this issue could be seen in a different light. There are many remarkably ill people around the world who suffer needlessly. Legalizing euthanasia would give people the ultimate rights over their own fate, save money for governments and hospitals, and end the unnecessary suffering of terminally ill patients.
We, as humans, should have the right to do what we want with both our lives and bodies. As stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 7: legal rights “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982) The statement itself explains that everyone has the right to live, and that they cannot be deprived of it. So, if one doesn’t want to fulfill that right to live for legitimate reasons of their own, then they are being deprived of their own right to live.
The Sue Rodriguez case (1992) involved a Canadian woman who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease
There are currently only a few countries in the world have recognized the fundamental human right to bodily control by legalizing assisted suicide, however it is practiced almost everywhere, whether legal or not. The word “euthanasia” is translated from Greek and literally means “good death” or “easy death” (Smith, 2002). Euthanasia, also referred to as “assisted suicide”, is the act of a person (most often a physician) intentionally taking someone else’s life in order to eliminate or prevent severe pain (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, 2008). There are three types of euthanasia; voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary (this essay only encourages voluntary) (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, 2008). Euthanasia is frowned upon in most societies around the world for moral, ethical and religious reasons - but this issue could be seen in a different light. There are many remarkably ill people around the world who suffer needlessly. Legalizing euthanasia would give people the ultimate rights over their own fate, save money for governments and hospitals, and end the unnecessary suffering of terminally ill patients.
We, as humans, should have the right to do what we want with both our lives and bodies. As stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 7: legal rights “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982) The statement itself explains that everyone has the right to live, and that they cannot be deprived of it. So, if one doesn’t want to fulfill that right to live for legitimate reasons of their own, then they are being deprived of their own right to live.
The Sue Rodriguez case (1992) involved a Canadian woman who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease
Cited: 1. "BBC NEWS | Europe | Euthanasia: a Continent Divided." BBC News - Home. 2009. Web. 11 Dec Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. 4 & TV Shows - Biography.com. Bio: True Story. Web. 08 Dec. 2011. <http://www.biography.com/people/jack-kevorkian-9364141?page=2#crusade-for-assisted-suicide> Joshua Dressler. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 623-629. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.