Euthanasia: Why it Should Be Permitted Known

Euthanasia: Why it Should Be Permitted

Known as mercy killing in some quarters, euthanasia has over time become one of the most hotly debated issues. As with other controversial debates, many arguments have been presented both in support and in opposition of euthanasia with those actively involved in the debate basing their viewpoints mainly on ethical, medical as well as religious considerations. However, taking into account the various viewpoints on the same that have been presented over time, it would be prudent to permit euthanasia in certain conditions.

Euthanasia: An Overview

Euthanasia according to Thamson (1999) is "bringing about someone's death because to do so would be in that person's interests." In most cases, it is those with conditions considered incurable who undergo euthanasia. However, in some scenarios, people could ask that their life be ended for a variety of other reasons including but not limited to pain and mental anguish. Generally, a request for euthanasia is often lodged by the individual seeking to have his or her life ended. If a patient is too ill to request for the same i.e. If the said patient can't communicate, such a request may be lodged by the courts, medics or even relatives/family members. In most countries across the world, euthanasia remains illegal.

Why Euthanasia Should Be Permitted

It is important to note that in some cases, physical pain and suffering in addition to bringing about great discomfort also tends to lower the dignity of the affected individual. In those scenarios where the patient's situation has worsened to a point where the chances of recovery are nil, it beats logic to allow such a patient to continue suffering. In such a case, it would only be reasonable to administer euthanasia to the suffering individual so as to preserve his or her dignity and save him or her more pain and suffering. Norman, Jackson and Rosenbaum (2010) capture this argument perfectly with their assertion that "sometimes, living with a painful disease may reasonably be seen as worse than death…" In such a scenario, the decision to end an individual's life can be undertaken by the suffering individual, the courts or even the relatives of such an individual depending on the prevailing circumstances.

Euthanasia should also be permitted for terminally ill patients on cost grounds. For instance, a condition that cannot be treated could end up costing the family a significant amount of money in terms of management and control. Further, critically ill patients on a life support machine could remain in an unconscious state for a long period of time without registering any sort of improvement. It would only be reasonable in such a case to administer euthanasia so as to ensure that the patient's family is not left destitute on the eventual death of the patient.

When it comes to the laws governing the issue, it is important to note that as I have already highlighted elsewhere in this text, euthanasia remains illegal in most countries across the world. The only U.S. states permitting euthanasia according to Norman, Jackson and Rosenbaum (2010) include "Oregon, Washington and Montana."

Opposing Viewpoints

One of the classical arguments advanced in opposition to euthanasia according to Cundiff (1992) has got to do with the probability of abuse. In his own words, Cundiff (1992) notes that "a law legalizing euthanasia might well be abused, with some person's life being ended against his or her consent for a motive other than mercy." This argument is not far fetched. For instance, what is there to keep a family from recommending euthanasia for a critically ill patient purely on cost considerations even if there is a chance that the patient could fully recover? However, I am convinced that with the right legal structures in place, the chances of such an occurrence would be greatly reduced.

Secondly, according to Cundiff (1992), yet another classical argument advanced in opposition to euthanasia notes that with the legalization of the same, "the right to die will become a duty to die." The author in this case notes that in some instances, some individuals i.e. those who happen to be elderly and disabled could be pressured to seek euthanasia so as to avert a situation where they may become a burden to their loved ones. Again, in my opinion, this is yet another issue which can be solved through the enactment of effective laws governing the administration of euthanasia. For instance, a legal provision can explicitly permit euthanasia only in those instances where the patient is in a lot of pain.

Euthanasia: A virtue Ethics Standpoint