Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia Essay - 988 Words

Today, voluntary euthanasia is getting closer to being legalized in more than just one state in the United States. â€Å"‘Voluntary’ euthanasia means that the act of putting the person to death is the end result of the person’s own free will† (Bender 19). â€Å" Voluntary euthanasia is an area worthy of our serious consideration, since it would allow patients who have exhausted all other reasonable options to choose death rather than continue suffering† (Bender 19). The question of whether or not voluntary euthanasia should be legalized is a major debate that has been around for years. Because the issue of whether people should have the right to choose how they want to live or die is so complex. With the advances in technology today we have made†¦show more content†¦It is said that with the legalization of voluntary euthanasia it will â€Å"undermine individual and corporate incentives for creative caring† (Anonymous Why 2). Peop le who argue against voluntary euthanasia ask why not make appropriate and effective care and training more widely available, not to give doctors the easy option of euthanasia. There have been organizations supporting the legalization of voluntary euthanasia in Britain and in the US for years now. They have had some public support but were unable to achieve the goal of legalizing voluntary euthanasia in either nation. In England a society, called â€Å"The Voluntary Euthanasia Society† was founded to make voluntary euthanasia legal for an adult that is suffering. The first group that was formed in the US that was for the legalization of euthanasia was the Hemlock Society. This societie’s purpose was to support the decision of a person to die and to offer support when a person is ready to die. The only way the society would support a person was if the person believed in euthanasia for a certain amount of time before requesting to die. â€Å"On May 5, 1998, the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation announced its establishment. Its purpose is to make available up-to-date information on developments in technology and methods for those s eeking voluntary euthanasia† (Fox 134). Until recently there was no success inShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia1429 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Euthanasia refers to a practice whereby an act is intentionally carried out with the purpose inducing death . It is usually seen in light of inducing death to patients who are terminally ill or may not be terminally ill but are suffering from unbearable pain . The focus of this paper is on voluntary euthanasia, namely, euthanasia carried out upon the request of a patient deemed competent enough to make such decisions . This paper will argue the importance of legalising voluntary euthanasia toRead MoreActive And Passive Euthanasia Essay1739 Words   |  7 Pages Rachels and Brock In â€Å"Active and Passive Euthanasia† Rachels demonstrates the similarities between passive and active euthanasia. He claims that if one is permissible, than the other must also be accessible to a patient who prefers that particular fate. Rachels spends the majority of the article arguing against the recommendations of the AMA. The AMA proposes that active euthanasia contradicts what the medical profession stands for. The AMA thinks that ending a person’s life is ethically wrongRead MoreEuthanasia Should Be Legalized For Terminally Ill People1064 Words   |  5 PagesThe word euthanasia has a Greek meaning â€Å"the good death. On the other hand, in the society today, there are deeper and more meanings to euthanasia than before. Voluntary euthanasia concerns itself with the consent of the person to die through the assistance of others. Voluntary euthanasia can be divided into two areas: passive voluntary witch is holding back medical treatment with the patientâ₠¬â„¢s request, active voluntary killing the patient at that patient s request informing the assistant on howRead MoreThe World Today Is Filled With Pain. Much Of This Pain1271 Words   |  6 Pagesof time of any pain. Then why is euthanasia such a widely debated topic? Euthanasia is a merciful act that can take away pain and give closure to loved ones. The sight of a friend, mentor, family member, or even oneself in a feeble state, nowhere near one’s â€Å"old self†, can be so wretched. Regardless of religion, political views, race, gender, etc, no one wants to experience the pain of this. Voluntary euthanasia and some strictly regulated non-voluntary euthanasia needs to be legalized around theRead MoreThe Difference Between Moral Permissibility And Legal Permissibility1462 Words   |  6 Pageslives: physician-assisted suicide (PAS), voluntary active euthanasia (VAE) and passive euthanasia. PAS is when a physician intentionally and knowingly prescribes lethal drugs to a patient intending to commit suicide. VAE is when a physician administers a lethal injection to kill a voluntary, informed patient upon request. Passive euthanasia is when a physician withholds treatment and leaves the patient to die. It is commonly thought for passive euthanasia to be ethically permissible, but not forRead MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?1426 Words   |  6 PagesDifferent life ending decision includes assisted suicide, voluntary or involuntary active euthanasia, voluntary or involuntary passive euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia (Cassity, 2009). Voluntary active euthanasia is similar to active suicide, but in this other person is the one who does the death causing act. When the person has intension to die and he/she refuses the life sustaining medical treatment, it is known as voluntary passive euthanasia. When another person is the cause of patient deathRead MoreEssay Pro Euthanasia1372 Words   |  6 Pagesright now euthanasia is il legal in many countries and is a very controversial topic. Is it compassion for the patient helping them in ending their life or murder? The doctor is not giving death as an option, it is the patients choice and even where it is legal there are many rules. Euthanasia should not be considered a crime because the patient is not being murdered; they are having their suffering end in a painless, humane way out of compassion for the patient and their family. Euthanasia is definedRead 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 MoreEssay about The Debate Over Euthanasia1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Debate Over Euthanasia The controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. Society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for good death, refers to the act of ending another person’s life in order to end their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the person’s life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patient’s lifeRead MoreEuthanasia Is A Form Of Doctor Assisted Suicide1379 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia is a form of doctor assisted suicide. There are many different types of Euthanasia and all are currently illegal in the United States with the exception of the state of Oregon. When a patient is being Euthanized they can be given an injection intravenously which causes their death this is called Euthanasia by action. A person could also be assisted to death through euthanasia by omission; this is when the patien t is not provided with the appropriate things such as food or water. Also patients