Subjects:
euthanasia. Although death is unavoidable for human beings, suffering before death is
unbearable, not only for terminal patients, but for the family members and friends. So what is
the solution? How can we ease the suffering of those whose death is both impending and
imminent. The answer, Euthanasia. Euthanasia comes from the Greek word `Thanatos'
meaning death and the prefix `eu' meaning easy or good (Russell 94). Thus, `eu- Thanatos’
meaning easy or good death. Euthanasia is clearly better choice for terminal patients than
suicide. The question is however, is it morally, ethically, and socially right.
In our society, suicide is always traumatic for families and friends. If there is no
alternative to relieve the suffering of terminal patients, then the more humane option to suicide
is euthanasia. This is not the only option however, "An option for people that are unsure of
euthanasia is called DNR or do not resuscitate" (McCuen 2). This means that if the patient has a heart attack or another potentially fatal problem in the hospital, "the doctors are told to perform a `No Code' which means that they should let the patient die pe
. . .
patients who are in great pain due to an incurable illness, like cancer.
A doctor that has helped terminal patients die is Dr.
Unlike murder, euthanasia is not an act of violence. Genocide like that done by Hitler was murder in it's basest, and most
blatantly evil state. In many cases it seems, "the doctor decides to help the patient by either giving the patient extremely strong painkillers and telling them the lethal dosage or directly assisting in the death of the patient" (McCuen 53). No family member who dearly loves the patient (who happens to be his or her family member or close friend) would choose death because he or she is weak or old. Because patients select to die, their deaths end suffering, and there is no intention to cause harm, thus physician assisted euthanasia cannot be considered murder. This oath says that, "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody when asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to that effect. However, many pro-euthanasians contend that the oath means that they should not give anybody a deadly drug to kill an enemy with, nor should they tell the person what to use to kill. Yes, it is the doctor who pulls the plug on then life support systems, but it was not a choice made by him.
When a patient like Cowart is in constant pain, death becomes a peaceful reward. Ultimately, we took her off of life support because she had no chance of recovering. The patient who is constantly in pain will always remain on the doctor's conscience unless they do something to help them. In most of the cases of
euthanasia, the patient died by lethal injection or certain life support systems were withheld
enacting the patient's death. While it is, in some cases, not right, generally I feel that if the owner wants it, and
the doctor's conclude that death is imminent, and unstoppable, than the patient should have the
right to end his or her own life.
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.