I agree with the concept of euthanasia for multiple reasons. Euthanasia is when an individual decides to end his or her life. This is normally due to severe, debilitating and usually terminal medical conditions. Euthanasia involves the use of medicine as a means to achieve this end. It differs from suicide in that it is more acceptable to many. In addition, many want a medical professional to aid them in their death. The word actually derives from the root words for “good” and “death.” Euthanasia represent a good death for the individual. Unfortunately, many terminal diseases, such as cancer and Lou Gherig’s disease, represent horrific deaths. This is also true for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and countless others. Individuals suffer horrifically at the end. Their family suffers as they watch the loved one endure physical and emotional pain. It is only humane to allow an individual a good death, rather than to force him or her to endure a brutal death. If we want to be a humane society, we need to recognize the need for humanity until the end of the person’s life.
Euthanasia is a controversial topic for a number of reasons. Many groups, such as the Catholic Church, believe that all life is sacred. Even if the individual is suffering a painful life where even strong pain medications do not offer relief. Others do not believe that a physician and other health care providers should participate in the death of an individual. Physicians and health care providers have sworn oaths to protect life. In some countries, euthanasia is clearly illegal. A physician who participates may be sent to jail or lose his or her medical license. This threat of punishment prevents many physicians from assisting their patients at the most difficult part of life. Other physicians may assist an individual by providing a number of medications; however, they must find a “legitimate” medical reason to prescribe the medication and the sufficient dosage. The death is then ruled an accidental overdose or a suicide. Doctors participate in these secret killings in all cultures. However, it is a secret and not openly discussed by physicians (Traynor).
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Other countries, such as the Netherlands, have a more accepting view of euthanasia. They recognize the need for it and that it allows an individual to decide how and when to end life and the pain of an illness. Euthanasia has been legal in these countries for over ten years. The process, of course, is strictly controlled. This ensures that the use of euthanasia will not be taken lightly by anyone. It requires a justification for the euthanasia. However, it does allow the potential for an individual to escape excruciating pain and suffering (Traynor).
One of the most cherished beliefs in health care focuses on patient autonomy. Autonomy, as a concept, demands respect for the individual. The individual is allowed to decide what occurs to him or her medically. This requires the individual to make an informed decision. An informed decision requires the patient to be aware of both the risks and benefits of all procedures. The individual must be aware of any alternative treatments. The individual cannot be coerced into making a decision. The decision must be made freely by the individual who is fully cognizant of all facts. In philosophy, the concept of autonomy recognizes that an individual should be allowed to live his or her life based upon the individual’s values and beliefs. These decisions must be free of any external motivation or forces. For humanity, autonomy is one of the most crucial concepts. It allows the human to truly be free in the world (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
True respect for autonomy demands that an individual be allowed to choose not only how to live his or her life, but also how to end it. By all means, suicide is something different. Suicide often results due to depression, financial difficulties, divorce and other more emotional aspects of humanity. Individuals may choose suicide as a means to escape a situation that they do not believe they can address. This is not the same as euthanasia. Financial problems are temporary often. Divorce is a stage of life for many individuals. Depression can be treated with medications and therapy. However, terminal cancer or Huntington’s disease do not offer an alternative for the individual. The individual is at a dead end. If the individual chooses to spend more or less time in this dead end, it should be the person’s choice. Some individuals want to live as long as possible, despite pain and serious health issues. They may find other things in life that they believe make the suffering worthwhile. However, others may have come to accept their inevitable death and choose to hasten it, rather than prolong it. It is not for another person to judge this decision or this belief. Unless an individual is in the same pain or physically debilitated state, that person cannot truly understand what initiates this decision for the person. The person should have the right to decide his or her own life.
Overall, approximately eighty percent of Americans agree with the concept of allowing a person to die with dignity. Allowing a physician to prescribe a lethal dose of narcotics to individuals can give this person a dignified death. The person can die, free of pain, when he or she chooses to do so. Part of the reason that euthanasia remains illegal is because of the power of the Catholic Church. They often threaten to excommunicate any politicians who support ideas antithetical to the Church’s beliefs. This is coercion. It is the perfect example of why euthanasia should be legal. The Catholic Church is forcing beliefs on individuals. No one can or should be forced to believe anything (Kingsbury).
By all means, euthanasia remains a controversial topic. Some individuals believe that all life is sacred. These individuals may change their opinions if they find themselves in agonizing pain as they wait to die from terminal cancer. Until a person experiences something, he or she cannot truly judge it. Individuals have a right to their personal autonomy.
- Kingsbury, Kathleen. “A New Fight to Legalize Euthanasia.” Time. 16 May 2008. 11 December 2013.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Autonomy.” 11 August 2009. 11 December 2013.
- Traynor, Ian. “Secret Killings of Newborn Babies Trap Dutch Doctors in Moral Maze.” The Guardian. 21 December 2004. 11 December 2013.
