Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper

“Euthanasia, formerly called, mercy killing, or assisted suicide, euthanasia means intentionally making someone die, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. Put bluntly, euthanasia means killing in the name of compassion” (International 1). Euthanasia is wrong in a sense that it is killing. Killing is the best word to describe the practice of euthanasia. Killing means to cause the death of” (International 1). Supporters like Jack Kevorkian assist people to their fate, while opposing groups like “Pro-Life Council and the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force,” speak out against the act with the hopes of abolishment. Throughout history, past and present , many societies have accepted euthanasia both legally and morally in various forms. In ancient Greece and Rome it was allowed in certain situations to help others die. For example, the Greek writer Plutarch said that in Sparta infanticide was practiced on children who lacked “health and vigor.” Both Socrates and Plato sanctioned forms of euthanasia in certain cases. Voluntary euthanasia for the elderly was an approved custom in several ancient societies (Douglas).With the rise of organized religion, euthanasia became morally and ethically abhorrent. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all hold human life sacred and condemn euthanasia in any form (Douglas). Following traditional religious principles, Western laws have generally considered the act of helping someone to die a form of homicide subject to legal sanctions. Even a passive withholding of help to prevent death has frequently been severely punished. Euthanasia, however, occurs secretly in all societies, including those in which it is held to be immoral and illegal. Society s view on euthanasia range from debatable views to debatable actions (Douglas). Insights and decisions about euthanasia are based on what they think is right or wrong. The supporters of euthanasia support it because they believe that the choice to live or die belongs to the patient who fills out the application (see figure 1). The antagonists believe that it is wrong mainly because it is ending a life of somebody that is terminally ill. Jack Kevorkian, an obvious supporter of euthanasia, has alone caused more than fifty suicide related deaths in his career. In an article in the Detroit Free Press, an example of Kevorkian s “work” is stressed. Janet Adkins, one of Kevorkian s “patients,” died at age 54, on June 4, 1990, of a lethal dose of drugs. She was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and her own doctor said she had at least ten years of productive life ahead of her. She had never met or talked with Kevorkian until she arrived in Michigan two days before her death. All arrangements were made by her husband, Ron, who is now president of the Oregon Hemlock Society. In the year before her death, Janet Adkins and her family were counseled by a family therapist who was coordinator of the Oregon Hemlock Society. According to an aunt, “She did not want to be a burden to her husband and family” and a friend explained, “She felt her death was a gift to her family, sparing them the burden of taking care of her.” At the videotaped meeting (two days before Adkins’ death) arranged to discuss her impending death, Janet Adkins never specifically asked to be put to death by Kevorkian. She did not say she wanted to commit suicide or to end her life. (14A) Not everybody supports these acts of euthanasia, organizations like the Pro-Life Council and the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force speak out against euthanasia. Organizations like the Pro-Life Council states that millions and millions of people in America don’t care about the acts that euthanasians have committed and that is why the killing continues. The Pro-Life Council is dedicated to educating the public to become concerned and work to effect change. “People are the only hope to effect this change. Catholics, Protestants, Jews and others must all be united with one single purpose protecting the rights and sanctity of all human life” (Pro-Life Council).The Pro-Life Council provoke thoughts is peoples minds by asking questions like: “Why have over 35 million abortions been performed in the United States of America alone? Why are we threatened with “Physician Assisted Suicide” legislation throughout the country? Why are the handicapped and frail elderly fearful of losing adequate and aggressive medical care? And why did the President of the United States veto the all important ‘Partial Birth Abortion’ bill that would have allowed babies to survive outside the womb of the mother”(Pro-Life Council). At a Connecticut Legislature public hearing on March 17, 1994, the Executive Director of Pro-Life Council states the negative consequences of euthanasia legalization. “Once euthanasia is legalized, all persons are at risk: adults suffering from severe depression, senility, mental illness, Alzheimer’s disease; infants who are born handicapped and children who are mentally handicapped or dying. If euthanasia is legalized, no one will be safe. Our health care systems across the nation have maintained high standards in the delivery of quality care and we must continue to strive to give quality care to each and every citizen Every citizen in our country has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – we must, therefore, maintain the highest standards in our health care delivery system and totally reject the notion that any of us has a right to ‘choose’ to assist in the killing of any human being” (Regina Smith/Pro-Life).

C.U.R.E., Citizens United Resisting Euthanasia, is another group against the works of euthanasia. “C.U.R.E. is a nationwide network of concerned citizens of diverse professional, political, and religious backgrounds bound together in a common cause: uncompromising opposition to euthanasia. To this end, they practice compassion, unity, research, and education” (C.U.R.E.). C.U.R.E. believes that to care is not to kill.People with the know-how like Regina Smith will help abolish euthanasia in the future. There are so many more organizations out there that are willing to aid in the anti-euthanasia groups. Examples of these groups are CURE, Citizens United Resisting Euthanasia, the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, and the Pro-Life Council. Euthanasia is wrong in a sense that it is killing. We were put on this earth to fulfill a duty, to live in the name of God. Lethal injections, killing, and assisted suicide are no way connected to God. Figure 1 The following pages are a sample of a “living will” used in the state of Connecticut. This sample was acquired from the Euthanasia Internet site at: http://www.euthanasia.com/lw2.html LIVING WILL DECLARATIONOFTHIS PAGE IS MEANT AS A GUIDELINEALWAYS CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY BEFORE CREATING A LIVING WILLKNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, _______________ presently residing at ___________________________________________ , hereby willfully and voluntarily make known my wish that my dying shall not be artificially prolonged under the circumstances set forth below and do further declare that:If the time comes when I am incapacitated to the point when I can no longer actively take part in decisions for my own life, and am unable to direct my physician as to my own medical care, I wish this statement to stand as a testament of my wishes.I , __________________________ request that, if my condition is deemed terminal, by terminal I mean that I am in the final stage of an incurable or irreversible medical condition which, in the opinion of the attending physician, confirmed by a second physician’s opinion, will result in death within a relatively short time or if I am determined to be permanently unconscious. By permanently unconscious I mean that I am in a permanent coma or persistent vegetative state which is an irreversible condition in which I am at no time aware of myself or the environment and show no behavioral response to the environment. If either of said situations exist then I be allowed to die and not be kept alive through life support systems. By life support systems, I mean any mechanical or electronic device, excluding the provision of nutrition and hydration, utilized by any physician or licensed medical facility in order to replace, assist or supplement the function of any human vital organ or combination of organs and which prolongs the dying process. However, the attending physician shall obtain the informed consent of NAME PERSON, or my next of kin, if known, or legal guardian, if any.I do not, however, intend any direct taking of my life, but only that my dying not be unreasonably prolonged.Nothing herein shall be interpreted or presumed to prohibit comfort care, pain alleviation and nutrition and hydration. All of the same shall be provided.If the attending physician does not deem that I am in a terminal condition, beneficial medical treatment and nutrition and hydration must be provided.I direct that my wishes not be altered in any way by any guardian appointed over me or any court of competent jurisdiction.This declaration made at ___________, Connecticut, this________ day of _______, 199__ ________________________We, the undersigned witnesses, declare that we were present at the time that__________________________ executed this Living Will Declaration, that he/she did so freely and voluntarily with full knowledge of its meaning and consequences, and that at the time of its execution he/she appeared to be of sound mind and competent in every respect to make this Declaration.______________________________ ______________________________ Subscribed and sworn to before me this ________day of ________, 199__.______________________________Notary Public, my commission expiresCommissioner of the Superior Court

Cure Internet site at: http://pw2.netcom.com/ cureltd/index.htmlDouglas, Jack. “Euthanasia.” Encarta. 1994 ed. Euthanasia: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions. International Anti Euthanasia Task Force, 1996Euthanasia Internet site at: http://www.euthanasia.com/lw2.html”Profession Condemns Doctor,” Detroit Free Press, 7 June. 1990, p.14a Pro-Life Council Internet site at: http://www.euthanasia.com/plc.htmlRegina Smith/Pro-Life Council Internet site at: http://www.euthanasia.com/smith.html