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Euthanasia is a difficult topic for many people, and opinions about it are often very strong. These opinions generally fall into two distinct categories: those who think everyone should have the right to choose, and those who think the practice should be completely illegal. There are several reasons why people have these deep-seated views regarding the issue, and it is important to address those in order to facilitate a better understanding of ideas and opinions on both sides. It is also important to be aware that some of the opinions regarding euthanasia are misguided in that they are formed without having enough knowledge about the issue. When people are not sure of the entirety of the issue, they can end up believing something negative (or positive) about an issue. Their views might be very different if they had all the information they needed to make a truly informed decision.
Those who believe euthanasia should not be allowed often cite religious reasons (Rachels, 1986). In other words, they see euthanasia as suicide, and they believe that suicide is a sin...
If that person is to make it into heaven, he or she must ask for forgiveness after committing a sin, which cannot be done with suicide. There is no "after" in which forgiveness can be asked. This is not the only reason people are against euthanasia, however, another reason many people do not feel it is the right thing to do is because they believe it opens the door to allowing doctors to make a euthanasia decision for patients who are not longer "valuable" from a societal standpoint (Harris, 2001). This could include the handicapped, the very sick, and the elderly. If these people are not able to be productive members of society in a financial sense, there are fears that they will be euthanized because of this (Torr, 2000). While this is unlikely to be the case, the fears are serious and important to many people.
For people who think euthanasia is something that should be legal, there are equally persuasive arguments. The most prevalent of those is the belief that a human life belongs to that human, and he or…
References
Harris, N.M. (2001). The euthanasia debate. JR Army Med Corps, 147(3): 367 -- 70.
Rachels, J. (1986). The end of life: Euthanasia and morality. Oxford University Press.
Torr, J.D. (2000). Euthanasia: opposing viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press.
Euthanasia is a Moral, Ethical, and Proper Social Policy When it is carried out with a competent physician in attendance and appropriate family members understand the decision and the desire of the ill person -- or there has been a written request by the infirmed person that a doctor-assisted death is what she or he desired -- euthanasia is a moral, ethical and proper policy. It offers a merciful end to
Euthanasia The power to control the destiny of another person's life is an opiate which no person should have the ability to ingest when the control is over the persons life, or death. While medical technology has been creating new conditions by which individuals can live longer, and medical science has entered a new era regarding treatment of conditions which only a few years ago would haven the lives of those
Taking one's life as a result of the fact that the respective person is expected to suffer inhumane pain for several years until his or her death cannot possibly be compared with murder or suicide. Morality should actually be combined with logics in understanding euthanasia and people need to be more sympathetic and less egocentric regarding individuals who prefer euthanasia as the "safe way out." Bibliography: Allen, Jen & Chavez, Sonia
Euthanasia Debate Euthanasia is the practice of voluntarily ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering (Euthanasia.com/definitions). The act of euthanasia differs from the act of murder in that the person who will die makes the decision to end their life. In the case of murder, the person does not wish to end their life, but anther person intervenes to bring about their death against their wishes. Euthanasia is
There are many other related reasons for arguing against euthanasia and its acceptance or legalization. One is that it contradicts the medical code of ethics and the Hippocratic Oath, which, "…expressly forbids the giving of deadly medicine to anyone who asks" (Cauthen). The argument that euthenasia is an act of compassion and mercy can also be contradicted. There are many drugs available today that can be used to control pain;
This literature review supports the premise that opinions regarding euthanasia differ among various groups of professional. This literature review demonstrates that the nurse plays an important role in the perceived quality of the death experience. The study indicates that there is a need for training in a number of clinical settings regarding care of the dying and futile treatments. Literature indicated that differences exist between nurses that are new to