Who Has the Right?

Who has the Right?

Euthanasia, the practice of mercifully ending a person’s life in order to release the person from an incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death. Euthanasia is an issue brought up and debated among many people in the United States. There are many different issues that tie into euthanasia and it’s reasoning, like religion and the condition that the patient is in. Euthanasia should be decided on only by the family member, no one else; considering they would be the only who knew what was best for the patient and their situation.

Euthanasia comes from the Greek language, meaning “good death” and was originally referred to as вЂ?intentionally mercy killing’. Many groups and societies throughout the world have practiced euthanasia. In ancient Greece and Rome helping others die or putting them to death was not considered wrong in some situations. For example, in the Greek city of Sparta newborns with severe birth defects were put to death. Voluntary euthanasia for the elderly was an approved custom in several ancient societies. (Euthanasia, 1)

The United States and Great Britain were the first countries to promote legalizing voluntary euthanasia in the 1930’s; which had little to no impact on the decision of the

government. However, in the seventies, support grew rapidly after an incident occurred in the United States. In 1975 a women named Karen Quinlan suffered a respiratory arrest that resulted in severe and irreversible brain damage and left her in a come. Months later, after doctors informed them that their daughter’s recovery was most likely not going to happen, Quinlan’s parents requested that artificial means of life support be removed. The hospital refused this request. (Euthanasia, 1)

If someone is not able to live on their own or believe they are too unhealthy to continue living on this Earth; they should be able to make the decision on whether they want to live their life or not. Real decisions are demanded when it comes down to the patients and their loved ones. State laws and courts have granted the spouse the first right to make life-or-death decisions, next come the children, and then the parents. Which is how it should be. A doctor or government official would never know what is best for someone’s own body. Making people go on living when they don't want to violates their personal freedom and human rights. It is immoral and it is not right to make someone continue living in pain.

However, there is a religious view that is always brought up in the discussion of euthanasia. Some people believe life is given by God and only God should decide when to take a human’s life. Religious people also see a positive when it comes to