Essay on Euthanasia An Individual Choice - 1847 Words

An eight-year old boy walked in to his grandmother’s room to find her not breathing. He instinctively called 911, not knowing what his grandmother’s or mother’s wishes were. That should have been the end to his grandmother’s suffering, but it was not. In this instance, doctors insisted on keeping his grandmother on life support, despite his mother’s request and his grandmother was incapable of articulating her wishes. She didn’t want her mother on life support. Today in modern â€Å"democratic† medicine, physicians are suppose to serve and advise, and only in extreme situations of incapacities, emergencies, lack of available health care proxies, or patient’s waivers of decision making should they decide for a patient. Euthanasia should be the†¦show more content†¦In 1994, 51% of the people in Oregon were in favor of decisions by proxy , and then in 1997, that percentage increased to 60% (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 9). These people perceive it as their right to choose for another, when it has been deemed that an individual is no longer mentally competent. Others have also said that family, the government, and the medical community should also be allowed to be involved in making medical decisions on behalf of a dying individual. There are those that say that immediate family members should be the only ones allowed to make decisions for their terminally ill relatives. Others say euthanasia is the answer for a patient with a long term terminal illness, and a long road of suffering and medical debt (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 2). Some doctors have concluded that when an individual’s demise is inevitable, they feel compelled to eliminate his/her suffering. If that is to include assisted suicide, they might take it that far. One such physician was Dr. Jack Kevorkian. He was chastised by both the medical community and society at large for his involvement in assisted suicide. He is now serving a ten-year prison term for second degree murder (Humphry, 2). Euthanasia should be the choice of the individual, and not of the family. It should be the individual’s right if they are cognitive and coherent. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Controversial Topic of Euthanasia975 Words   |  4 PagesEuthanasia is a controversial topic throughout today’s society. As euthanasia is illegal in America, Singer fights for the legalization of voluntary euthanasia, which means the patients make voluntary request to be assisted to die. While religious views value that the life cannot be taken away so easily, Singer focuses on the human rights that enable their choices to die or not to die. However, I do not agree with singer’s respect for autonomy on the issue of voluntary euthanasia because this issueRead MoreEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal942 Words   |  4 Pagesof someone with a terminal illness euthanasia, many believe may be the only option where the individual has the option to die and put an end to their pain and suffering. those who s tand in agreement with these options, including myself, consider themselves pro-choice and provides the argument that euthanasia grants an individual the autonomy to make the ultimate decision in regards to their life. Others, believe that euthanasia deprives not only the individual affected but their families the abilityRead MoreEuthanasia1541 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing Euthanasia 1 Euthanasia is defined as â€Å"the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy†. (Unknown, 2012) Euthanasia ends the individuals’ life by either lethal injection or the suspension of medical treatment. Euthanasia is not legalized in many places. When it comes to the debate of Euthanasia, there are more arguments on why it should be legalized than why it should stay illegal. There’sRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1635 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the highly valued principles of American democracy has always been the idea that individuals are, and of right ought to be, entitled to make for themselves those decisions that most affect them. While it is true that we have no control over our births, at least we ought to have control over our deaths. We claim to be free people but someone else’s morals and standards could possibly govern the way we die. Medicine today makes it possible for patients who are living with unbearable pain toRead MoreShould Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide Be Legalized in Canada?1486 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia, formally known as mercy killing, is the act of intentionally causing the painless death of a sick person, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. In terms of a physicians actions, it can be passive in that a physician plays no direct role in the death of the person or it can be active in that the physician does something directly to cause the death (Yount, 2002). Euthanasia may also be formed into three types of act, which are voluntary, involuntary, and nonvoluntary. VoluntaryRead MoreThe People : Ethics And Social Responsibility Essay1280 Words   |  6 PagesASSIGNMENT 7 OGBE MOSES E VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA For this week Unit 7 written assignment, I choose to talk about Voluntary euthanasia. A brief history and ethical and unethical dilemma of this topic will also be looked into in this assignment. A physician or doctor that carried out an act of voluntary euthanasia (Mercy killing), brings about the death of an individual who is in a state of bad medical condition because he or she believes that the patientRead MoreEuthanasia Should Be Legal Alternative931 Words   |  4 Pagessomething. What the person found was a certain practice called euthanasia. Euthanasia is a practice that will put patients out of their misery and allow them to die peacefully instead of in pain. This practice has not been fully legalized in the United States, but it should be. Euthanasia should be a legal alternative that helps people when they are in a stage of illness that is crucial so it can be used. The main circumstance where euthanasia should be allowed is when it has become the only option leftRead MoreEuthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide Essay1731 Words   |  7 PagesEuthanasia and physician assisted suicide are both types of medical assistance aiding in ending a suffering patient’s life. This pain may be due to a terminal illness and suffering as well as those in an irreversible coma. This practice of doctor assisted suicide is illegal in many countries, but is increasing in popularity as people start to recognize the positive aspects that euthanasia has to offer for those that fit the criteria. Euthanasia is essential for those, placed in such life diminishingRead MoreEuthanasia Essay - Pro Euthanasia Argumentative Essay1148 Words   |  5 Pages9 1/13/17 Pro Euthanasia Argumentative Essay Euthanasia is the act of intentionally killing someone to end suffering, with and without their consent. This practice has been around since the beginning of time and has been practiced by different cultures all over the world. In the United States currently, only 5 states allow the option of euthanasia. All states throughout the USA should allow the act of euthanasia. Considering it is within the 1st amendment due to it being a choice, which is a wayRead MoreEuthanasia: a Fatal Decision Essay742 Words   |  3 Pagesown extermination. In his article, In Defense of Voluntary Euthanasia, Hook argues that euthanasia provides an easy way to end suffering. Examining the pros and cons of euthanasia and its usefulness if legalized, it is clear that there are very few benefits involved. When death is made a legal and easy option, it is an attempt to take full control of life and, by doing so, opening the door to more abuse than benefits. Euthanasia is the practice of putting to death persons who have incurable