Research Paper
Will Greene
Mr. King
Eng 101-16
Research Paper December 4, 2012
Meeting Dr. Death
Walking down dull white hallways, seeing disease, and experiencing death are just a few things that have been experienced by myself and many others in the hospice wing of a hospital. There are some things that an individual cannot bear to see while in this wing as terminally ill patients are forced to live through the pain of their illness. Without being able to do anything but lay in bed day after day, some patients wish for death to come early and relieve themselves and family members of the pain that comes with being terminally ill. Many people who have not experienced a loved one slowly slip away could not understand the pain that comes with not knowing which day could be the last day for that loved one, whether it be a family member or close friend. Some of the hardest parts come from knowing that neither the doctor nor yourself can do anything to help or take away the pain. The only cure for some terminal illnesses is illegal in the United States, and that would be euthanasia.
The practice of euthanasia is widely debated throughout the United States. Defined by the Oxford English Dictionary Euthanasia is, “The means of bringing about a gentle and easy death.” Euthanasia being illegal in the United States is causing many patients to live through the pain of both their illness and the suffering of their family members. The legalization of Euthanasia in the United States should be approved because a patients right to live or die should be the patient’s decision. The history of euthanasia can be traced back to ancient times. In ancient Greek and Roman cultures euthanasia was widely used as a form of mercy killing for terminally ill patients. Back in ancient times the doctors who took care of sick and dying patients did not have any sort of sophisticated technology as we do today, so the mercy killings known as euthanasia were brought on to patients
Mr. King
Eng 101-16
Research Paper December 4, 2012
Meeting Dr. Death
Walking down dull white hallways, seeing disease, and experiencing death are just a few things that have been experienced by myself and many others in the hospice wing of a hospital. There are some things that an individual cannot bear to see while in this wing as terminally ill patients are forced to live through the pain of their illness. Without being able to do anything but lay in bed day after day, some patients wish for death to come early and relieve themselves and family members of the pain that comes with being terminally ill. Many people who have not experienced a loved one slowly slip away could not understand the pain that comes with not knowing which day could be the last day for that loved one, whether it be a family member or close friend. Some of the hardest parts come from knowing that neither the doctor nor yourself can do anything to help or take away the pain. The only cure for some terminal illnesses is illegal in the United States, and that would be euthanasia.
The practice of euthanasia is widely debated throughout the United States. Defined by the Oxford English Dictionary Euthanasia is, “The means of bringing about a gentle and easy death.” Euthanasia being illegal in the United States is causing many patients to live through the pain of both their illness and the suffering of their family members. The legalization of Euthanasia in the United States should be approved because a patients right to live or die should be the patient’s decision. The history of euthanasia can be traced back to ancient times. In ancient Greek and Roman cultures euthanasia was widely used as a form of mercy killing for terminally ill patients. Back in ancient times the doctors who took care of sick and dying patients did not have any sort of sophisticated technology as we do today, so the mercy killings known as euthanasia were brought on to patients
Cited: “Christianity: Euthanasia.” BBC Religions. 3 August. 2008. Web. 25 November. 2012 “Euthanasia.” Def. 1. Oxford English Dictionary. Web. 25 November. 2012. “Families Cope Better After Euthanasia.” Web Log Post. British Medical Journal, July 2003. Web. 26 November. 2012. Manning, Michael. Euthanasia and Physician -Assisted Suicide: Killing or Caring? 1998. Web. 4 December. 2012. Reagan, Judy, and Ann Alderson. "A Patients Right To Die." Mental Health Series. Tennessee Medicine, Mar. 2003. Web. 26 Nov. 2012 "Stage Four Lung Cancer." WebMd. N.p., 2005. Web. 25 Nov. 2012