Legalization of Active Euthanasia essays

Legalization of Active Euthanasia essays The term Euthanasia has become well known throughout the United States. Euthanasia is derived from the Greek words eu and thantos, these words come together to form the phrase easy death. Today, euthanasia is referred to by many names such as mercy killing, and assisted suicide. There is much controversy over whether or not the practice is right. Euthanasia raises many religious, legal, medical and ethical issues. The question of euthanasia being right or wrong is one that most would prefer to leave alone. However the unique cases of euthanasia bring up the consideration of legalization. Those for euthanasia feel that government should consider legalizing active euthanasia because, suffering before death is unbearable not only for terminal patients but Euthanasia can be either passive or active. Active euthanasia is when a physician or other medical personnel hastens as suffering patients death. To carry out this process an overdose of drugs is introduced to the patients system as a form of insulin, barbiturates, or morphine. Passive euthanasia allows the patient to die due to lack of treatment. This includes stopping the food supply and taking the patient off life support systems. This is also known as pulling the plug (Comptons Interactive Encyclopedia). All cultures have strong prohibitions against killing. However cultures and religions approve of killing in time of war or in defense against a life-threatening attack. There are sixty-two verses in the Bible calling for killing as punishment for approximately thirty various forms of disobeying the commandments (Neils, Section 1-Chapter 7). The Fifth Commandment states simply Thou shalt not kill. Aid-in-dying is not killing. Killing is doing something to someone against their will to end their living. Physician aid-in-...