Thesis: Human euthanasia should be legalized worldwide as it enables those whose lives are no longer worth living to end the pain and agony they feel every day; it frees much needed resources for other endeavors and enables humanity to become a much more humane society. What does it mean to be human? If we were to walk into any hospital we might start to wonder. In almost all hospitals, there are people whose only wish is to end their suffering but are kept alive due to outdated social stigmas that only increase their pain. This is why human euthanasia should be legalized worldwide as it allows those whose lives are no longer worth living to end the pain and agony they feel at every moment; frees much needed resources and enables humanity to become a much more humane society. Firstly, allowing euthanasia to be used on humans would allow those whose lives are no longer worth living to end the misery they feel on a daily basis. There are millions of people in hospitals and nursing homes who are suffering needlessly as they struggle against an incurable disease with no chance of survival. For example, in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is both legal and tightly regulated, physician assisted suicide accounts for a mere 2.1% of all deaths annually, a vast majority of which are terminal cancer patients. Legalizing human euthanasia would allow them to end their lives with peace and dignity while surrounded by loved ones. Thus, allowing them to end their lives would also free up the resources and money previously taken up in caring for them. Secondly, allowing human euthanasia would free up the resources used by those whose only wish is to end their suffering. Those resources could be used to ensure that the rest of the population has a greater access to resources and services previously taken up. Long term palliative care for the terminally ill is a huge and ultimately wasteful drain on medical resources. These precious resources are used on patients who has expressed a desire to die, when they could instead be used improving the life of those who wish to live. In addition, these resources could be re-allocated to further research into the diseases the patients are suffering in order to develop either a cure for these diseases or improve the quality of care for future generations. This would in turn create a more humane society by increasing the quality of life worldwide. Proponents of anti-euthanasia argue that the desire to die is caused by depression, that by choosing to end their lives they reject any chance of getting better, and euthanasia is essentially murder, as there are thousands of documented cases where the patient is euthanized without consent. However, even if the depression is treated, a terminal disease is still terminal, and there is no escape, other than death, that can change these circumstances. The British House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics defines euthanasia as "a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering". By refusing them the death of their choosing we are causing unnecessary pain, and we are becoming an unsympathetic or inhumane society. Allowing them the choice would ensure a painless death with the presence of those who love them and would enable us to better ourselves, and by extension society as a whole. In conclusion, legalizing human euthanasia worldwide would enable those whose lives are no longer worth living to end the suffering they feel on a daily basis; it frees up resources and services for other uses and enables our society to become more humanitarian by allowing patients to die at the time of their choice surrounded by those who love them. The question is if you were suffering from a terminal disease, what would you choose?
Work Cited
Guy, Martal. Stern, Theodore A. “The Desire for Death in the Setting of Terminal Illness: A Case Discussion.” National Center for Biotechnology. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2006. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1764532/. Accessed September 20, 2013.
Canadian Institute for Health Information. “Health Care in Canada, 2011: A Focus on Seniors and Aging”. 2011. https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/HCIC_2011_seniors_report_en.pdf. Accessed September 20, 2013
Cited: Guy, Martal. Stern, Theodore A. “The Desire for Death in the Setting of Terminal Illness: A Case Discussion.” National Center for Biotechnology. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2006. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1764532/. Accessed September 20, 2013. Canadian Institute for Health Information. “Health Care in Canada, 2011: A Focus on Seniors and Aging”. 2011. https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/HCIC_2011_seniors_report_en.pdf. Accessed September 20, 2013
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
“Overall, most humans look for a dignified, peaceful death for themselves and their families/loved ones, whatever their stance is regarding Euthanasia”. However, the ethical issue arises when artificial termination of life if considered. Euthanasia advocates argue that being disallowed this practice is a breach of human rights, stating that all people should have a right to decide when and how their death should take place. Another pro-Euthanasia argument is to do with mercy, that if a person suffering intolerable pain which cannot be numbed by medication asks to end their life, that they should be given that right. People also believe that Euthanasia is inevitable anyway, and so it would be better for it to be carried out safely in order to prevent accidents.…
- 1259 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Over the next 10 minutes, I will persuade each and every one of you that it is essential that euthanasia is legalised. I will do this by covering three main areas. These being the moral justification for euthanasia, secondly the economic importance of euthanasia and finally I will discuss the basic human rights of an individual.…
- 830 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
If euthanasia were legalized, it would allow terminally ill patients and their families the opportunity to better prepare for the death. Unfortunately in many cases of terminal illness, individuals are kept alive by machines, erratic treatments and drugs. This makes it very difficult to determine when the individuals are going to die. Legalizing euthanasia would give the patients the chance to tell their families their wishes, and their families the time to make the arrangements. Being in control of when they die would allow the patients to do last minute things such as receive their last rights and see all of their friends and families.…
- 985 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
There are two factors that have contributed to euthanasia’s distinction with how the world is today. They are both an increasing sense of self-determinism and medical revolution that have the potential of prolonging human life (Michigan, 2006). People think that just because there are things like hospice and medication that euthanasia shouldn’t even be an option. But what people don’t know is that even with the best medication and the patient being made completely comfortable, it is not the pain that causes people to ask for what people call a “hastened death”, but the humiliation and suffering that accompanies most terminal disorders.…
- 2132 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
To sum it all up, euthanasia should be allowed. One has the power of their life. Especially when it is causing them pain and the people around them. Having to either pay for another ill person in result to their family being ill when they are in pain can get very expensive. There are people who need the help and the money more than the people who only have a few months…
- 620 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Furthermore, I have reasons why we can legalize euthanasia. In any condition we suffer into pain, the same as unbearable pain. For example, I can say that if I was in a car accident and i'm into pain which my conditions of pain it’s unable to be controlled then to lose the anxiety of suffer I voluntarily decide a fair way to no longer fear but easily have my death be simply melt away. With all this, by allowing people to choose how and when of their death. I consider with all that been said live what remaining life to the fullest and free from the pain of anxiety. We all have the right to decide what he/she should do with their own life. I can say this because people should not be forced to stay alive if their lives are impossible and don’t bring…
- 863 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
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.…
- 1357 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Euthanasia, or doctor assisted suicide, has been subject of controversy in North America for a number of decades. Prior to the argument of whether or not euthanasia should be legalized for the terminally ill, it is important to differentiate between the two types of doctor assisted suicide. Passive euthanasia is withholding treatment necessary for ones health and allowing nature to take its course. Active euthanasia, the most controversial of the two, is the use of forces, such as lethal injections that will directly result in death. With that being said, doctor assisted suicide should be legalized for the terminally ill. It is within a persons own choice whether they wish to live or die, if they decide there is no longer a quality of life, they should be allowed the choice. If consent is given from the patient as well as next of kin, there should not be an issue with fulfilling ones dying wish. Finally, when one is terminally ill, it is inevitable that the disease will deteriorate at the physical health, and eventually they will die. If one decides they do not wish to suffer, and wish to die with dignity, that should be an option. Euthanasia is controversial for a number of reasons, however, if boundaries and restrictions are negotiated, it is possible to better accommodate the wishes of patients who are suffering an inevitable death.…
- 1841 Words
- 8 Pages
Good Essays -
“The term euthanasia originated from the Greek word for ‘good death’. It is the act or practice of ending the life of a person either by lethal injection or the suspension of medical treatment. Because of this many view euthanasia as simply bringing relief by alleviating pain and suffering” (1). I strongly agree in legalizing euthanasia in our society, and I will be applying the ethical doctrine Utilitarianism to defend my case. Euthanasia minimizes the suffering that affects those involved. Euthanasia is already legal in Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium, and permitted in Switzerland if performed by a non-doctor. In the US, the State of Washington, Montana, and Oregon have already passed laws in support of euthanasia while a recent Gallop poll finds that the vast majority of Americans continue to support "right-to-die" laws for terminally ill patients. The following benefits to legalizing euthanasia are: patients’ are saved from unwanted suffering, free up the nurses and doctors time for savable patients, vital organs can be saved, allowing doctors to save the lives of others, and health care cost would be reduced.…
- 859 Words
- 4 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Despite the medical advancements of the 20th century there isn’t a cure for cancer or brain damage and countless other diseases. Some patients with cancer walk out of hospitals others might die in unimaginable pain. People with UNREVERSABLE brain damage have less options. They either need assistance from machines and family for the rest of their life. Or they can even be in a state of vegetation where they can’t move at all. Alive only by their machines. In these conditions people should have the option of euthanasia. Euthanasia is when doctor administers a drug to kill a patient, all patients should have this option.…
- 542 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
People who are terminally ill and in a lot of pain often desperately want to end there life and do it in horrifying ways. Many starve themselves to death just so that they can stop the pain. Doctors and family members are frequently being charged due to helping a patient or family member end their life. This could all be solved if euthanasia was legalised. So why hasn't it happened? Why are so many people lives being damaged? Australia is yet to legalised euthanasia due to vulnerability concerns. They are worried that people will feel as though they are a burden and will ask to end there life. Or that doctors will take advantage of there power. This can easily be solved by providing qualified, independent third parties that will check whether the request is genuinely voluntary or is feeling pressured into making the decision. If euthanasia were to be legalised it would stop many people from ending there life's in dangerous…
- 666 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The alternatives to euthanasia that people end up using/doing are horrifying. By refusing people the right to end their own lives, we’re increasing that pain and indignity to a such a horrifying extent. There are multiple cases of human beings that have tried taking their lives in other ways, such as starvation, because they were denied this painless death. If humans really want to end their lives, they will and sometimes in the most horrific, most painful ways, so they might as well have a painless option. They deserve to die painlessly with their dignity and self-respect still in…
- 905 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Secondly if a law that allowed the practice of euthanasia or PAS to be performed were to be passed letting consenting terminal patients end their lives, it would just be a slippery slope that would create problems down the road to where any one including the handicapped and sick could choose euthanasia and would also give doctors too much power in the process and could start euthanizing people without their consent. The old, sick, and handicapped could be in danger of being involuntarily euthanized in hospitals to make room for other patients who could be cured. That is just one possible outcome; there are also other unforeseen consequences if a euthanasia or PAS law were to be passed. If euthanasia or PAS were to be made legal, it may put pressure on people who are disabled or sick to want to put an end to their own lives so that they are not a burden to their family or loved ones who are taking care of them. A long stay in a hospital is not cheap, and a terminal patient or a handicapped person who needs special assistance may not want to burden their family with large hospital bills and may feel pressured into ending their life. We also hear about how some patients are…
- 1036 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
No person should be held against their will to go through long-time and terminal pain and suffering. By legalizing euthanasia, hundreds of thousands of terminally ill and injured people would immediately have a way to end the pain and suffering for not only themselves, but their families as well. After the initial help and being the best decision for those who are hospitalized, it may become the first go to solution, even though other options may work better. Legalization of medical euthanasia have pros and cons, the in the end good outweighed the bad.…
- 641 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
This article discusses the case for euthanasia, presenting economic considerations and the individual’s right to choose as key reasons. It then outlines the arguments that opposers to euthanasia put up. While it is tougher to make a compelling case, they contend that legalizing euthanasia destroys respect for human life and the mystery of life and death. They also point out that allowing euthanasia usually leads to the slippery slope of abuse and threatens the morals of future generations. The conclusion weighs the merits of both camps and makes a reasoned judgement on the issue of whether society should allow euthanasia.…
- 1591 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays