Euthanasia: Death and Murder Steals Life

Essentially, Euthanasia is “the right die”. Many people argue for Euthanasia being legalized stating things such as “whose life is it anyway?” and “my body, my decision.” Typically, Euthanasia is a subject brought up in accordance to terminal illness or being in a vegetable state. The argument for legislation of Euthanasia include that no one should have to suffer through the pain and deterioration of a terminal illness if they prefer to end their lives beforehand. Many believe that Euthanasia the humane solution to an irreversible declining health condition. On the other hand, you have many people arguing that Euthanasia is unethical and morally wrong. The argument over Euthanasia is complex; particularly when including the level of responsibility needed for the act. Many people against Euthanasia believe that if legalized, physicians would abuse of it. Many believe insurance companies would put extra pressure to Euthanasia than to pay for the more costly alternatives. Some even go as far as to classify euthanasia as ‘murder’. Because patients select to die, their deaths end suffering, and there is no intention to cause harm, therefore, physician assisted euthanasia cannot be considered murder. Defined, murder is an act of violence which is perpetrated against a victim. A man being shot five times and dumped into a river would be an accurate example of a murder victim. The individual dies at a time which is forced by the killer who has intent to harm him or her. Frequently murder is painful and the person who is dying has not voluntarily decided to participate in his or her death. By its nature, murder is death by violence at the choice of the killer's rather than nature. Unlike murder, euthanasia is not an act of violence. Additionally, doctor assisted euthanasia is performed with the full consent of the patient. Murder steals life, while euthanasia gives the patient release. Perhaps the most important issue at hand is the patient's right, willingness, and desire to die. For the most part, any random, healthy individual would most likely be unable to imagine or comprehend the type of pain and anguish that a terminal illness will cause. Therefore, the decision to live or die under the presence of certain, and probably painful, death should be left in the hands of the individual that is suffering. As Doctor Jack Kevorkian states, "A physician is supposed to help patients maintain or regain health and avoid suffering". This means that, if all treatment fails, the physician should be allowed to assist in avoiding the unnecessary agony. If the outcome is assured death, the means of arriving there should be the most dignified and serene possible. Euthanasia is an inherent right that should not be infringed upon through its not being legalized. Euthanasia refers to choosing a dignified death, rather than one set for the individual, and in a slow and painful manner at that. Ultimately, euthanasia is a question of choice: empowering people to have control over their own bodies. Euthanasia will always be in existence, now it is merely a choice of making it "acceptable" or "unacceptable" as far as the government is concerned. America was built on freedom and individual choices we make: Choosing how and when you want to end your life should be a legal freedom of every American citizen.