Pros and Cons of Euthanasia

Euthanasia, Should Terminally Ill Patients Be Allowed to End Their Lives Via Assisted Suicide

TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS BE ALLOWED TO END THEIR LIVES VIA ASSISTED SUICIDE

Euthanasia, notably called assisted killing or mercy killing, is perhaps one of the medical prescriptions that have always raised varied and multifaceted arguments, most of which have never reached any solid conclusion. Clinicians are prone to take every necessary step necessary to keep the health of a patient at stable conditions. Nonetheless, there come a time when the patient knows, together with the clinician, that there is a lesser chance of survival. In such situations, health professionals are stuck between assisting the patient to die, notably by using an external means, or letting him or her to fight for life until death, something that might be painful, both to the clinicians, the patients, and even the loved ones. Assisting a patient to die, with or without his consent, is something that strikes so much debate, as whether this act is ethically and morally acceptable in the health profession and the world of life, among other sentiments.

Distinct Sides

Mercy killing can be analyzed from two fronts. The proponents of the same argue that euthanasia is a morally acceptable, legally acceptable, and ethically acceptable undertaking, based on the current situations. In contrast, the opponents are for the fact that there is no ethical, legal, and any other structure that gives one the right to take the life of another.

Background & Analysis of Issue

It is clear mercy killing has been considered, as an activity that should not be allowed should be prohibited since it is not right at any given moment. Many would argue for euthanasia on several grounds. The proponents consider that mercy killing is a necessary act that shows some compassion in life. These proponents also rely on the autonomous argument that those who call for mercy killing 'want it' and hence they should be served with the same. These people believe that every individual patient has a solemn right to choose when to die. Apart from the compassion that allowing people to die with dignity is likened to a continuous suffering, these believers hold that mercy killing is a controlled way of life. It is a 'public policy argument' it can take the efforts of the government and its legislation to regulate the use of euthanasia by the health professionals.

Pros & Cons of Issue

Euthanasia has some pros in that it marks an end of suffering of a patient. The thought is a preserved death with dignity. Others argue and see euthanasia as a way that frees up equipment and funds besides giving the patient the right to exercise the power to choose. In contrast, euthanasia has some cons in that it devalues the human lives, has certain religious and ethical problems, and that it marks a high level of corruption if allowed.

Identity & Description of Target Audience

This argument against euthanasia targets many sectors of the human kingdom. First, it targets patients and allows them to understand their need to value life. It targets doctors trying to let them know their role in protecting and saving a life. Moreover, it targets legislators of the human health and social promoters of life, like the religious groups, that life is a valuable aspect that has to be protected at all times.

Clear explanation of my opinion

Euthanasia should not be made a right in any way. It is a live-taking proposal that devalues the human life and is likely to lead to the human destruction of life at any given time.

Support for argument

It is with such arguments that this proposal refuses and takes a stand that euthanasia should not be tolerated within the kingdom of the living things. It is arguably right to say that many other alternative treatments are available instead of euthanasia. Some of these alternatives include hospices and palliative care that are instrumental in prolonging life without the patient having to go through pain. It is not necessary that a patient is killed as a way of killing the symptoms. It is possible for all the pain to be relieved. Humanity has no right to be killed, as there are many other dangers that involve 'slippery slopes.' Allowing the practice of euthanasia could lead to involuntary and other non-voluntary euthanasia. Such an occurrence will give the healthcare professionals the power to make decisions on when patients and their lives worth. For instance, an occurrence took place in Netherlands in 1990 where approximately 1,000 patients were killed even when they were not for it (Weber, 2000, p. 46).