Arguments Against Legalized Euthanasia Essay example

The way a person goes through the process of dying and accepts death is closely related to the way the persons society and culture view the process. A persons family, cultural values, social and medical institutions are all factors that form part of the context in which individuals die (Dickinson and Leming 13). In past years, death was an accepted and natural part of life. Unlike today, death was common to occur at home with family and friends present. Advances in health, medicine and medical technology, however, have reduced peoples contact with death. Currently, most people rely on hospitals or nursing homes to take care of the dying (Dickinson and Leming 14). Sociologists Michael R. Leming and George E. Dickinson hold†¦show more content†¦Other groups, such as the Hemlock Society, believe that in justified cases (terminally ill) there is an obligation to help, if asked, a dying person to end his of her life. At the present this is against the law and the Hemlock Society wants to see this rule modified so that a doctor may help without fear of prosecution (Berger and Berger 162). On the other hand, religious groups are horrified by this idea. For example, the Catholic tradition sees death as a negativity and not as something one has a right to. In this tradition, spiritual death in which human being rejects the offer of Gods self-disclosure and cuts himself or herself off from the source of supernatural life, is wo rse than physical death. Thus, to directly take the life of a person is not only wrong because of the harm done to the other party, but, for Catholics, it is also wrong because it is an act of appropriating to oneself an activity reserved to God alone (Berger and Berger 14). There is no need for euthanasia. God gave life and only God should resolve when life ends. In the article Active and Passive Euthanasia, Rachels describes the situation of a patient who is dying of incurable cancer of the throat. He was certain to die within a few days, but he did not wanted to go on living for thoseShow MoreRelatedOpinions on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide1347 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Opinions of euthanasia and assisted suicide vary by country to country, and only a few nations permit euthanasia in the case of terminally ill patients (van der Heide et. al., 2007, p. 1957). The public discourse surrounding the ethical, and subsequently legal status of euthanasia is frequently heated and somewhat polarized, because the debate cuts to the very heart of notions of human rights and ethics. Unfortunately, this only tends to further obscure the issue at hand, which is in reality a fairlyRead MoreEuthanasi The Death With Dignity Act1312 Words   |  6 Pages Euthan asia remains highly controversial in the U.S. because even a state such as Oregon which upholds the Death with Dignity Act â€Å"passed by a margin of 51% to 49% as stated by the Oregon Health Authority. Thus, even though Niles suggested that Oregon supports euthanasia, the Death with Dignity Act seemingly remains controversial because almost half of the population in Oregon is against Euthanasia, and there are stakeholders who still challenge its implementation. In the context of this paper,Read MoreEuthanasia And Assisted Suicide Are Legal1506 Words   |  7 Pagesplaces where euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal. Even then, the practice is generally only partially permitted and a majority of patients in cases where euthanasia should be an option, cannot travel to another state or country due to their condition. â€Å"The vast majority of families [of terminal patients] do not have the flexibility, resources and time to make all [necessary] changes† such as obtaining new driver licenses, finding new doctors and house, etc. (Maynard 2014). *Euthanasia and assistedRead MoreEuthanasia - Arguments For And Against Euthanasia Essay1469 Words   |  6 PagesEnd of life - Euthanasia - Arguments for and against euthanasia. (2006, April 1). Retrieved November 6, 2015. This article sets out the most vital and most recurrently adduced arguments for and against euthanasia. Each subdivision takes as its root, one aspect of the discussion. For example, autonomy and the inviolability of life, designating how it is probable to argue both for and against euthanasia, correspondingly, on the basis of the identical facet. It suggests â€Å"The account will include suchRead More Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesToday, voluntary euthanasia is getting closer to being legalized in more than just one state in the United States. â€Å"‘Voluntary’ euthanasia means that the act of putting the person to death is the end result of the person’s own free will† (Bender 19). â€Å" Voluntary euthanasia is an area worthy of our serious consideration, since it would allow patients who have exhausted all other reasonable options to choose death rather than continue suffering† (Bender 19). The question of whe ther or not voluntaryRead MoreThe Hidden Potential Of Euthanasia1006 Words   |  5 PagesThe Hidden Potential of Euthanasia When people think of the term â€Å"dying with dignity† they will usually picture themselves living a very fulfilling life where everyone saw them as some sort of hero. Maybe they want to be seen as someone who was strong and kept up with a battle to fight disease. This same image could come to mind with a person who chose to take their own life rather than let a disease or terminal illness be the reason for them dying. There are very few people that imagine dyingRead MoreThe Case Against Euthanasia913 Words   |  4 Pages(Kirkey 2). Euthanasia is defined as assisting a terminally ill patient with dying early. In many countries the legalization of this practice is being debated in many countries. All doctors against assisted suicide, including the 44 percent in Canada, are on the right side of the argument. Euthanasia should not be legalized because it is unnatural, it violates the Hippocratic Oath, and laws are to extensive. Protecting life is the ethical view of society today, and legalizing euthanasia offsets thatRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?901 Words   |  4 Pages Legalized Murder? Euthanasia allows someone who is suffering from a painful, terminal illness or is comatose to die painlessly. The word â€Å"euthanasia† is made up of two Greek words—â€Å"eu† means good and â€Å"thanatos† means death. Thus, the word â€Å"euthanasia† translates to â€Å"a good death.† The concept of euthanasia has been around since the 14th century. Even then, it caused much controversy among physicians, lawyers, sociologists and psychologists, making it one of the most complex problems of the modernRead MoreEuthanasia Is A Painless, Quick, And Peaceful Death1569 Words   |  7 Pagesmisery. This is often thought of as an act of kindness towards your pet; you’re relieving it’s intense pain and suffering. Why is it acceptable to put a loved pet out of its misery, but frowned upon to help a human relieve their terminal pain? Euthanasia is a painless, quick, and peaceful death that can be medically provided to patients by doctors to help end the suffering that comes with a terminal disease. This option is currently illegal in the United States. All over the country, there areRead MoreEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal1520 Words   |  7 Pages Euthanasia or commonly known as Physician-Assisted Suicide is defined as the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease or is in an irreversible coma. It is an act that speeds up death. Some people consider euthanasia to be a mercy killing and others consider it to be murder. This practice is illegal in most countries. In the United States, however, six states have legalized physician-assisted suicide even though most states, 44 to be more specific, have