Euthanasia Case

Euthanasia has joined abortion as one of the most painfully diverse issues in the world and has become increasing controversial over the past two decades. Euthanasia comes from the Greek words meaning "good death" and is defined as the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit ("Euthanasia," n.d.).There several types of euthanasia: passive, active, and physician assisted suicide.

Passive euthanasia, or "letting die" is de fined as ceasing or not starting medical treatment that keeps a person alive, such as attachment to a respirator or provision of food and water through a tube (Yount, 2007). The terminally ill person is allowed to die of natural causes. Another form is called active euthanasia which can either be voluntary (done at the sick persons request) or involuntary (done without the persons concurrent request or permission). In active euthanasia, a person actually causes the death of a terminally ill individual (). An example would be someone who gives a dying friend a lethal injection to hasten death. Physician-assisted suicide occurs when a physician facilitates a patient's death by providing the necessary means and/or information to enable the patient to perform the life-ending act (e.g., the physician provides sleeping pills and information about the lethal dose, while aware that the patient may commit suicide) ("Euthanasia," n.d.).

Much of the controversy with euthanasia is with physician-assisted suicide and the debate over wither the practice should be legal. Dr. Kevorkian considered the right to die to be a basic personal right, having nothing to do with government laws. He felt there could be a time when a suffering person may choose death and that physicians should be allowed to assist. He believed that there were people who were healthy and mentally competent enough to decide on suicide, people who were not depressed. He felt that everyone had a right for suicide, because a person has a right to determine what will or will not be done to his/her body.

Many Americans view physician -assisted suicide as an acceptable practice. Supporters have attempted to legalize it in many states with the exception of Oregon, they have been unsuccessful. Those who favor euthanasia argue that human life only has meaning when the individual is free from unendurable physical and mental suffering (Synder, 2006). Much of the debate concerning physician-assisted suicide has centered on the issue of individual autonomy and choice over when to end one's own life. The Hemlock society is a major proponent in assisted suicide. "Hemlock strongly believes individual freedom requires that all persons be allowed to control their own destiny...This is the ultimate civil liberty...If we cannot die by our choice, then we are not free people." ("Euthanasia,"n.d.) They feel people should be free to determine their fates by their own autonomous choices, especially in connection with private matters, such as health. A person has the right to euthanasia because it's there body and they can do as they wish as long as it causes no harm to others.

Some people who are pro euthanasia feel that the people who have incurable degenerative or disabling condition should be allowed to ask for aid in dying, even if there illness is not terminal (Yount,2007). Other's feel that if the quality of life has become so bad, a person may feel too much physical or emotional pain, they should have the right to die. People who are against euthanasia believe that it would not only be for the "terminally ill" and it is a rejection of the importance and value of human life. They also feel that doctors have a moral responsibility to keep their patients alive as reflected by the Hippocratic Oath (Hawkins,2002). The Hippocratic, which is taken by physicians, enjoins "Do no harm" and states: "I will give no deadly medicine, even if asked". Thomas Reardon, past president of the American Medical Association said, physicians are healers...The inability of physicians to prevent death does not imply that they are free to help cause death" (Snyder, 2006). The American Medical Association has said: ". . .