Should euthanasia (mercy killing) be allowed for terminally ill patients?

Euthanasia means “good death” or “easy death” thuseuthanasia means failing to prevent death or putting to death in cases of terminal illness or injured patients with an aim of relieving persistent physical suffering, unconsciousness, and anxiety of a person. Sometimes euthanasia is considered a solution for non-terminal patients like seriously incapacitated people whose futures might have a poor “quality of life” and in most cases who would be a serious burden to their families and society. This essay seeks to examine whether euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill patients.

Arguments for legalizing physician assisted suicide are weighty, and individual cases of suffering are distressing. The doctors’ role is to minimize suffering and save lives but in some situations, saving lives seems to prolong pain and misery of the patient. Thus the main reason to allow euthanasia is medical arguments, which include great physical suffering and pain that is caused by incurable diseases in the terminally ill patients, persistent vegetative state, special cases of possibility of organ transplant and equitable distribution of medical costs (Visnja Strinic 2015).

In voluntary euthanasia, the patient consents to a specific course of medical action in which the patient will make decisions about his or her death and communicates the decision.

Nordqvist (2017) argues that euthanasia will only be voluntary if the patient is mentally competent, with a clear understanding of all available options and impacts and the ability to communicate that understanding and the wish to end their own lives, but determining competence is not straightforward and thus a challenge in allowing Euthanasia.

Some, although agreeing that voluntary euthanasia in terminally ill patients is ethically allowable, Nordqvist (2017) says that, against all the odds, occasionally patients recover. The diagnosis by the physicians might be wrong. Sidney Cohen, an American was given three months to live after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was suffering so much pain and bed-ridden. He asked for euthanasia to be administered, because euthanasia it was illegal he was refused. Eight months later Cohen was still alive and said: “I now know that death is inevitable and since coming under hospice home care I now enjoy a full life.” (Visnja Strinic 2015).

Euthanasia is against the Morals and religious believes. Several religious beliefs see euthanasia and suicide as a form of murder which is morally unacceptable. Morally, there is an argument that if euthanasia is allowed, it will weaken society’s respect for the righteousness of life. (Nordqvist 2017). Also Legoute (2016) argues that religious people, older individuals and women tend to oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide. Furthermore, having a serious and life-threatening illness only does not seem to change the attitude toward allowing euthanasia or assisted suicide. Likewise, being a caregiver does not seem to impact on attitudes toward euthanasia.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide is a constant topic of debate, where on one side is the fact that it will end the long suffering of the terminally ill patient, save the family mental and financial strain while on the other side its morally and ethically wrong because it allows doctors or/and patients a chance to “play God” and dictate life and death. In conclusion, the decision as to when and how to die is beyond human capability and provision of good palliative care makes euthanasia unnecessary.

References

Nordqvist C. (2017, December 12).What are euthanasia and assisted suicide?Medical News today. Retrieved from http:// www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182951.php

SergoLegoute (2016) Euthanasia and the Right to Die.Spring 2016 Undergraduate Law Journal

Visnja Strinic (2015) Arguments in Support and Against Euthanasia.British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research 9(7): 2-5

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Euthanasia