Euthanasia - Death with Dignity?
Death, we all must face it some time or another. After all, isn't death just a part of life? Whether we accept it or not an end to something that has begun is inevitable. But why, then, must some choose to die before their time? The term 'euthanasia' comes from the Greek word meaning 'easy death'. Stedman's Medical dictionary defines euthanasia as, "the intentional putting to death of a person with an incurable or painful disease intended as an act of mercy" (485). Black's Law dictionary, on the other hand, has a definition for euthanasia that is quite different; it states that euthanasia is "the act or practice of killing or bringing about the death of a person who suffers from an incurable disease or condition. Euthanasia is sometimes regarded, by law, as second degree murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide" (609). Currently, euthanasia is only legalized in few areas, such as the Netherlands and the State of Oregon. Although Oregon legalized euthanasia only recently, the Netherlands has been practicing euthanasia since the 1970's. At the beginning euthanasia was only permitted for terminally ill patients but it has escalated so much that now you no longer need to be terminally ill to request the 'easy death'. E
A study published October 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that support for assisting suicide and euthanasia among oncologists (physicians specializing in cancer treatment) declined by more than half between 1994 and 1998, a drop the study authors attributed primarily to "expanding knowledge about how to facilitate a 'good death,' making euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide no longer seem necessary or desirable" (1). Two bills relating to assisted suicide were introduced in the Vermont General Assembly in February 2003. Kerby Anderson exclaims, "Once euthanasia is legalized, health-care providers and insurance companies will begin to factor in the costs and benefits of physician-assisted suicide. 275, which were introduced by nine representatives, would criminalize assisted suicide. Because of the historical, social, and medical factors of euthanasia, the laws against euthanasia should be reexamined. Although only Oregon and the Netherlands have legalized euthanasia, there have been many arguments to legalize it in other places and even now euthanasia is crawling its way to being legalized in many other places. On March 7, 2002, the Hawaii House passed by a vote of 30-20 the Hawaii Death with Dignity Act, patterned after the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. Euthanasia has taken its toll on Oregon even though it's only been legalized for a short time. These guidelines stated that the patient would have to be terminally ill and they would have to request euthanasia themselves. It was found that of the fifteen people who committed suicide, none did so because of intractable pain or suffering. Humbert had been unable to speak, move, or see following injuries suffered in an automobile accident in 2000, although he was able to write his book by communicating through movements of his left thumb. Before 1973, euthanasia in the Netherlands was illegal. On January 13, 2003, Senator Colleen Hanabusa again introduced the bill in the Senate as S.
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