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assisted suicide persuasive essay Autosaved
Should Euthanasia be legalized? The word euthanasia is Greek for “good death”, which is the practice of ending one’s life to ease pain and suffering. On average there are one million suicides a year and seventy-five percent of them are due to health related problems. (Source 1) Euthanasia is not legal in the United States, and several doctors across the country have been charged with man slaughter for assisting their patient. Medical operations and drugs needed after procedures cost more than euthanasia, (Source 2) and it is more humane to let them die peacefully while in comfort of family, than to die in immense pain when no one is around. Euthanasia should be legalized in the United States because it is humane, inexpensive, and it allows time to be with family. When someone has cancer and they try treatment it is very expensive and often leaves a family heavily in debt, even when the treatment was unsuccessful. Treatments are typically thousands of dollars, as well as the drugs that are administered afterwards. (Source 2) Families could be paying off payments for years while most people could pay for euthanasia out of pocket. However if euthanasia is performed there’s a possibility that the treatment may save their life.
Natural death is unexpected and can leave those beloved by the expired in grief, unlike euthanasia where a heads up can be given. In the case of Emperor Augustus families can be alongside the participant, “Emperor Augustus, dying quickly and without suffering in the arms of his wife, Livia, experienced the euthanasia he had wished for." –Francis Bacon (Source 3) Euthanasia can allow a chance to correct the past and leave the world with no regrets, furthering the peacefulness of their passing.
It is humane to put a sick animal to sleep rather than to let it suffer and die a slow painful death, yet it is not the same case when it comes to a human life. The process of death can be long and painful when old age is mixed with a terminal illness. Euthanasia can help take away the pain quietly and peacefully instantaneously. Euthanasia is much more humane than forcing a person to sit and watch as their body loses all ability to function.
Euthanasia should be legalized in the United States for those who can meet government requirements. It is more humane to euthanize someone, than to not give them a choice and let them die a terrible and miserable death. Also it gives time for families to conjugate and wish them goodbye together. Euthanasia is also far less expensive than multiple treatments that have the potential to leave a family in debt.

Citation Sheet
1. "Euthanasia." Healio.com. N.p., 5 Jan. 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.
2. "The Cost of Cancer Treatment." The Cost of Cancer Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.
3. "Euthanasia." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

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