To most people the issue of euthanasia is a matter of right from wrong. Those people who disagree with the practice of euthanasia base have created their opinions from a religious viewpoint. These people do not realize that the issue of euthanasia is strictly about the freedom to choose. Through understanding, the two different forms of euthanasia, morality of the issue, the religious viewpoint on euthanasia, viewpoint of the people who are against euthanasia, and the pain and suffering that euthanasia erases, it is obvious that euthanasia needs to be legalized to ensure the freedom of the American people.
             Euthanasia is typically broken into two categories active euthanasia, and passive euthanasia. "Active euthanasia is the act of administering a lethal drug, or using other means that cause a persons death" (MacKinnon, 126). "Passive euthanasia is Stopping (or not starting) some treatment, which allows a person to die, the persons condition causes his or her death," (MacKinnon, 126). Active euthanasia is usually the more debated of the two acts of euthanasia and is better known because of the actions of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who has aided in many successful suicides. Passive euthanasia usually never enters our thoughts because it is usually looked at as letting someone die naturally. In passive euthanasia a person refuses treatment with the knowledge that they will die. This causes fewer debates because it is seen as a natural way of dying. Some religions refuse to accept treatment when they know that they will die. For example, in the faith of the Jehovah's Witness, a child who has been in a car accident and is in need of blood will die rather that accept treatment. This kind of passive euthanasia would be accepted because it is for religious reasons. In either case the victim will die. There is no difference between them. Active euthanasia is the more controversial of the two even though both result in death.
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