Preview

Euthanasia Informative Essay

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2293 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Euthanasia Informative Essay
The Controversy of Euthanasia One of the biggest and most controversial topics throughout society today is the act of euthanasia in humans. In the medical field, euthanasia is commonly known as assisted suicide that is essentially for terminally ill patients only. When thinking about euthanasia, Americans tend to relate it towards the rights for animals, but in this specific example I will focus on the controversial topic of legalization on behalf of people who are professionally diagnosed with a life-threatening diseases. This will not include minorities under the age of eighteen or the elderly over the age of sixty. Thus when looking at the data in today’s society, euthanasia is clearly defined as taking action of ending a person’s life to relieve persistent and relentless pain. As of today, the majority of our nations population believes that euthanasia is immoral. Although euthanasia is illegal in the United States currently, some citizens argue in defense of dying peaceful with dignity rather then suffer in a hospital bed for months on end. After several decades of consideration, euthanasia is extremely difficult task to break down due to both disagreements within the choice for and against this practice. For instance, the term ‘euthanasia’ comes from the Greek words eu meaning god, and thanatos meaning death (Manning 2). Euthanasia can also be referred to as ‘mercy killing’ or the practice of assisting someone the aid of death whether it may be legal or illegal, depending on a country's jurisdiction. In other countries it is legal, like Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and Albania. Most of the United Kingdom, since 2009, declared legalization in all hospitals for medical euthanasia under the condition that a patient is suffering from chronic pain along with an incurable disease (Mattlin). The specific classification of euthanasia within legal jurisdiction becomes more complex when looking at what is considered fair and what is unjust. During the 1300s suicide or


Cited: Humphrey, Derek. "Biography, Information and Resources of Derek Humphrey." Derek Humphry - Biography, Information and Resources - Derekhumphry.com. Final Exit Network, 2 Sept. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. <http://www.derekhumphry.com>. Manning, Michael. "Historical Timeline – Euthanasia." Euthanasia – ProCon.org. Web. <http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000130>. Mattlin, Ben, comp. "The Debate About Assisted Suicide." The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. Mattlin, Ben. "Suicide by Choice? Not So Fast.." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. Miller, Mike. "Dr. Death, Jack Kevorkian, Dies at 83." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 03 June 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/03/us-kevorkian- idUSTRE7523JP20110603>. Nitschke, Philip. "Assisted Suicide/ Voluntary Euthanasia." Exit International. ABC Compass, Exit International, 10 Jan. 2010. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. <http://www.exitinternational.net/>. Nordqvist, Christian. "What Is Euthanasia (assisted Suicide)?" Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 19 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. ProCon.org. "Top 10 Pros and Cons." ProCon.org. 18 May 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. Robinson, Bryan. "Kevorkian Sentenced to 10 to 25 Years for Murder." Court TV News. Courtroom Television Network LLC, 13 Apr. 1999. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. <http://web.archive.org/web/20070406114239/http://www.courttv.com/trials/kevorkian/0 41399_pm_ctv.html>.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide : Who Should Decide?
    • 1087 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide : Who Should Decide?

    Lessenberry, Jack W. (1999). Prescription Medicide: The Goodness of Planned Death / Appointment with Dr. Death / Dr. Death: Dr. Jack Kevorkian 's Rx: Death / The Suicide. Social Pathology, 5(1), 101-104. Retrieved May 27, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodicals. (Document ID: 50255334).…

    • 1087 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Rodgriguez vs British Columbia
    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rodgriguez vs British Columbia

    Cited: CBC, News Online. Indepth: Assisted Suicide. CBC News Online, 2004. 1-4. 1 Nov. 2006 .…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide: Film Analysis
    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide: Film Analysis

    In 2014, a 29-year old woman named Brittany Maynard, publicly announced she was going to legally take her own life. She was suffering from brain cancer and chose to move to Oregon to utilize their Death with Dignity Law (Maynard, 2014). Because of her age, assisted suicide was thrust into the media and became a huge talking point. Assisted suicide existed in the media prior to 2014. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, dubbed “Dr. Death”, was an active proponent for physician-assisted suicide. In 1999, he was convicted of second-degree murder for his role in over 130 assisted suicides and hailed as a champion by other right to die activists (James, 2011). In 2010, the television film, You Don’t Know Jack aired on HBO. The film showed a humanistic side to the man people called, ‘Dr. Death’. This…

    • 1638 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Should Euthanasia Be Legalized in the Uk? Essay Example
    • 5500 Words
    • 22 Pages

    Should Euthanasia Be Legalized in the Uk? Essay Example

    The word Euthanasia derives from the Greek words Eu and Thanatos which means easy or good death. Euthanasia is is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma[1]. Euthanasia exists in various forms, each one specific in its criteria. Firstly there is active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia involves the use of direct action in order to end the patient’s life whilst passive euthanasia is the withholding of medical aid in order to allow the patient to die naturally such as not performing life-extending surgery or turning off a life support system. The next distinction is between Voluntary and Involuntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia involves the patient’s termination at their own request whilst involuntary euthanasia occurs when the patient is unable to ably make a decision and therefore a suitable person makes the decision for them. Indirect euthanasia involves treating the patients pain but with the side effect of death, the primary intention is often used to justify the outcome. This is often referred to as the doctrine of double effect and in reality is not considered euthanasia given that the real purpose of the treatment is pain relief and death is merely seen as the side-affect. Finally there is assisted suicide which involves a patient incapable of committing suicide themselves asks for assistance in doing so. Euthanasia is a controversial topic that contradicts the age old moral injunction “thou shalt not kill”[2]. But similarly denying patient’s of this choice is defying medical practice cornerstones such as the patient’s autonomy and promoting their best interests. Different countries hold varying stances on Euthanasia but it is currently illegal in the UK. Most recently the case of Tony Nicklinson, a man totally paralysed by locked-in syndrome requesting euthanasia, has come to the forefront of the debate. Given the right to take his case to…

    • 5500 Words
    • 22 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Jack Kevorkian or Jack the Ripper
    • 1776 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Jack Kevorkian or Jack the Ripper

    Champion, David R. "Jack Kevorkian." Great Lives From History: Notorious Lives. New York City: Salem, 2007.…

    • 1776 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kevorkian Assisted Suicide
    • 219 Words
    • 1 Page

    Kevorkian Assisted Suicide

    Dr. Jack Kevorkian was the face of the assisted suicide movement in the 1990s, and his practices in assisted suicide and euthanasia are shrouded in controversy. According to (Preface p.1), “He invented a killing machine called the mercitron which incapacitated or debilitated people could use to take their own lives: All they had to do was flip a switch.” He became known as Dr. Death and assisted over 130 people in their deaths from 1990-1998. In attempt to bring attention to the Right to Die movement, Dr. Kevorkian was public about his self-described “mercy killings.” In doing so, he had several murder charges brought against him by the state of Michigan. He was never convinced, until his attempt to ratchet up the debate resulted in him taping…

    • 219 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Weeds vs. Flowers
    • 4681 Words
    • 19 Pages

    Weeds vs. Flowers

    Dr. Jack Kevorkian is a firm believer in physician-assisted suicide, giving his patients the dignity and respect that they deserved in making this last major decision for their life and how they wanted to end it. His patients thought of him as a hero because he aided them in their major time of need, and they felt very comfortable with him because they didn’t have to worry about feeling awkward when bringing up this method of help. The family members of Kevorkian’s patients were ultimately happy that he provided such ease to their loved ones, and showed nothing but care and respect for those individuals. This decision is a heavy burden to bear because of the feelings that the majority of people feel is wrong and immoral. Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of second degree murder in 1999 because of assistance with euthanizing one of his patients Thomas Youk, who suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1998. He was provided with financial support by an organization called “The Hemlock Society” for his lawsuit, and they also referred patients to him for their aid in finding a caring physician that would end their suffering.…

    • 4681 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Dr. Kevorkian's Contribution To The Right To Die Movement In America
    • 1342 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Dr. Kevorkian's Contribution To The Right To Die Movement In America

    Humphry, Derek. “Evaluating Dr. Kevorkian’s Contribution to the Right to die Movement in America – Assisted Suicide.” Evaluating Dr. Kevorkian’s Contribution to the Right to die…

    • 1342 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide Research Paper
    • 3211 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide Research Paper

    A hotly debated issue regarding the quality of life for terminally ill patients revolves around the morality and legal implications of euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide which is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease, or in an irreversible coma. There are already a multitude of laws in place regulating physician assisted suicide in some states and countries, as well as laws preventing the practice. But despite these preventative laws physician assisted suicide remains an underground practice to relieve patient suffering. In lieu of the supposed moral issues associated with physician assisted suicide,…

    • 3211 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Physician-Assisted Suicide: the Right to Die with Dignity
    • 3192 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Physician-Assisted Suicide: the Right to Die with Dignity

    One of the most controversial topics in society is physician-assisted suicide. The debate is endless in regards to human suffering. There is a solid argument in favor of physician-assisted suicide in terminally ill patients, who are experiencing unbearable pain and have little time left. Research shows that one who is terminally ill and going through excruciating pain has the right to make decisions regarding free choice and human dignity to end one’s life in a merciful way. Research on opposing arguments will show that physician-assisted suicide has negative psychological effects on the doctor along with being morally wrong to take the precious gift of life. Public attitude, education, perception, religious beliefs, family values, and freedom of choice all combine to make the decision of whether physician-assisted suicide is right or wrong, is murder or not murder, one that will truly never be clearly defined. This writer believes that all human beings have the right to be safe and free of pain when one is suffering from a terminal illness.…

    • 3192 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Exploratory Paper
    • 1189 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Exploratory Paper

    Marker, R. (2009). Assisted Suicide Debate on Fox News. Retrieved October 26, 2010, from http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/video/fn_20090227.htm…

    • 1189 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Euthanasia Argumentative Essay
    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Euthanasia Argumentative Essay

    The concept and practice of physician assisted suicide is a highly debated topic in today’s news. People often question the morals of the physicians who practice euthanasia and there are some who believe that they should not even be considered doctors. Euthanasia is the ending of someone's life through a doctor's help and is still illegal in most countries. One of the most well known advocates for the practice of euthanasia is Jack Kevorkian, who has also been referred to as Dr. Death. He was tried and convicted of second degree murder, however his practice gained a lot of support from the publicity of his trials. Although he is responsible for over 130 deaths, Kevorkian is a hero in today’s standards because of his involvement in the practice…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Assisted Suicide
    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Assisted Suicide

    Wolf, S.M. (2008). Confronting Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthansia: My Father’s Death. Hastings Center Report, 38(5), 23-26. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How To Write Effective Informative Speech
    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How To Write Effective Informative Speech

    activist who tried to legalize assisted suicide under the argument that everyone deserves a humane death. There had been much debate on the issue,…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Physician Assisted Suicide: the Moral Debate
    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Physician Assisted Suicide: the Moral Debate

    Engber, Daniel. “How Does Assisted Suicide Work? A guide to “Death With Dignity” in Oregon.” Paragraph 5. (Oct. 6, 2005). 10 Mar. 2009…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics