Euthanasia Should Be Legalised in Australia

Voluntary euthanasia should be legalized in Australia. For years, there has been much global debate on this topic. Euthanasia is the hastening of death for a suffering, terminally ill person. Indeed, the term euthanasia quite literally means ‘good death’ in Greek. As Australians and as human beings, we should have the freedom of choice to decide a quiet death when we have no chance of life. Euthanasia is a dignified way to end the suffering of terminally ill patients.

In essence, we are autonomous people with a right to self-sufficiency, independence and to self-regulation, so why should we not have the right to choose whether or not our lives should end if there is little or no hope of recovery? Even health professionals in Australia must treat in accordance with the patient. It is hard to put your feet in the shoes of these patients. They are suffering, and quiet literally dying. If the inevitable is near-future death, why not end it now and take the emotional and physical stress off the patient and their loved ones. Some opposing the idea may say if euthanasia is allowed, it can easily be abused. Of course, the legal system must be designed to not permit the misuse of the law. Before a patient is even offered euthanasia, his or her mental stability must be considered, that is, is the patient competent enough to make a sound decision? Also financial and domestic problems of the patient must be taken into account by the board of professionals regulating euthanasia in our health system. In 2009 Newspoll discovered a huge 85% of Australians support euthanasia. 85% believe that people have the right to choose voluntary, quiet death when in immense suffering.

Secondly, euthanasia is a choice that concerns quality of life. We all have different standards regarding quality of life. For some being clinically alive is enough to mean that you should continue to live. However for others, being clinically alive is simply inadequate. Some would argue that allowing euthanasia would be allowing suicide. Euthanasia is very different to suicide. Suicide does not help a person and is used as the ‘easy way out’ of solving problems in life. Suicidal patients can be given treatment such as counseling, rehabilitation, etc. In contrast, euthanasia is when someone voluntarily dies when there is no known way to recover physical and mental health. Euthanasia is definitely not cowardly. If a person’s life is lacking in self-awareness or an intrinsic presence as a human being due to extreme physical suffering, then that person should be able to choose a dignified death rather than an undignified existence.

In conclusion, throughout this essay, the meaning of being ‘terminally ill’ has constantly been accentuated. It means to suffer. To give your loved ones great grief. To be awaiting near-future death. To be given no hope of surviving. To be dying. At the end of the day, when it concerns our lives, we should be focusing on what we want, what we believe in- not what society wants us to do. Legalise voluntary euthanasia and put the right to die in the hands of that patient where it rightfully belongs.