Euthanasia Pros And Cons Essay: Euthanasia is a term that is used for “intentional action or inaction to end another person’s life in order to relieve them of suffering, with the explicit intent to minimize pain and distress.” Euthanasia has been around since antiquity, but it was not until the 1970s that it became more widely discussed globally. Moreover, the term “Euthanasia” is not used in some countries or organisations. For instance, the Dutch Law uses the terms “assisted suicide” and “termination of life on request.”
Euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, and some states in the United States. In some countries, such as Switzerland and the Netherlands, euthanasia is available as an option for those who are suffering from certain terminal illnesses or conditions that significantly affect their quality of life. In other countries such as Canada and Mexico, assisted death may only be allowed if it’s not available within the individual’s state or region. In India, only passive form of Euthanasia is allowed, which involves the removal of life-support systems or treatments which are required to sustain life.
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Types of Euthanasia
Euthanasia is a controversial topic because of the ethical questions associated with it. There are three types of euthanasia
- Voluntary euthanasia (legal)
- Non-voluntary euthanasia (legal in some countries under certain conditions )
- Involuntary euthanasia (illegal)
What is Voluntary Euthanasia?
Voluntary Euthanasia is the act of terminating one’s life through suicide. The most common form of voluntary euthanasia is to use a lethal dose of barbiturates, but there are other agents that can be used as well.
What is Non-voluntary Euthanasia?
Non-voluntary euthanasia is euthanasia considered when the explicit consent of the individual concerned is unavailable – this is usually because the concerned individual may have experienced brain death or might be in a persistent vegetative state. There are two subtypes:
- Active Euthanasia – Involves the use of lethal substances or force (such as a lethal injection)
- Passive Euthanasia – Involves removal of life-support systems or crucial treatments, which are required for the continuation of life.
What is Involuntary Euthanasia?
In some cases, euthanasia is performed without the consent of the person in question because they do not want to die. This is sometimes called involuntary euthanasia. However, involuntary euthanasia is considered a crime (murder/ manslaughter) and is illegal across the world. The most infamous example of euthanasia being used involuntarily is by the Nazi’s gas chambers during World War II.
Euthanasia Pros / Pro-euthanasia Arguments
Following are arguments for euthanasia:
Seeking medical treatment can be a long and painful process: The wait to see a specialist or get an appointment at your medical practitioner’s office can leave you in pain for weeks or months on end. The process of getting medical attention is time consuming, frustrating, and oftentimes expensive.
Dignity in Death: For some, this is the only option to escape mental anguish and physical suffering. Because for such individuals, they may have exhausted their medical treatment options, and so they decide against any form of treatment and simply let themselves be euthanized. This is especially apparent in cases where death is imminent and the patient is in extreme pain or suffering.
Family members will have less guilt about euthanasing: A new study has found that people who know their loved ones well and understand the reasons for end-of-life care decisions will have less guilt about euthanasia. The study also found that young people are more willing to talk about end-of-life care with their family members than older generations.
A person’s quality of life may be so bad that they would rather die: People may choose to be euthanized to escape a world that is no longer tolerable. Reasons for this may be severe chronic pain, terminal illness, or intolerable psychological suffering. The World Health Organization published a list of unbearable conditions in 2016 and included “chronic pain, terminal illness, and intolerable psychological suffering.”
No one has a right to keep another person alive against their wishes: This argument states that a person has the right to refuse any medical treatment, including life-saving treatments such as CPR. The argument then says that if someone decides that they don’t want to be alive anymore (due to terminal illness, or extreme pain), then they shouldn’t be forced to stay alive. An infamous example is the Tokaimura nuclear accident (30 September 1999) – where a lab technician named Hisashi Ouchi was exposed to lethal amounts of radiation. The injuries that Ouchi sustained from the exposure was so severe that all medical treatments proved ineffective. Regardless, the medical staff tried to keep him alive even though chances of his recovery were next to zero. He was kept alive for a total of 83 days before he finally passed away.
Euthanasia Cons / Anti-euthanasia Arguments
There are many arguments against euthanasia
There is no such thing as a ‘good death’: Modern medicine can prolong life and make it as comfortable as possible for those about to pass on. Regardless, death is a very frightening prospect and the idea of dying can cause many to feel anxious.
Euthanasia is a violation of human rights: It violates the right to life, the right to be free from torture and the right not to be subject to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.
Euthanasia deprives people of the opportunity to choose how they die: Critics argue that euthanasia deprives people of the opportunity to choose how they die. Proponents argue that for some people, this is a better way to end their lives than prolonged pain and suffering.
Euthanasia may be a form a of abuse: Opponents of euthanasia believe that it can be a form of abuse. They cite cases where family members have coerced an elderly relative into agreeing to euthanasia or have tricked them into thinking that they are being helped with pain medication, only to give them a lethal injection instead. In some districts of Tamil Nadu (India), a form of involuntary euthanasia where elderly people are killed by their own family members. This practice is called Thalaikoothal, a Tamil word which roughly translates to “leisurely oil bath.”
Some people want to die because they suffer from depression: Depression can be a debilitating disease that affects around 350 million people worldwide. The symptoms of depression include feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts and anxiety. Hence, such individuals might consider euthanizing themselves instead of seeking help.
Conclusion on Euthanasia Pros And Cons Essay
Euthanasia is the act of ending a person’s life in order to relieve pain and suffering. People may request euthanasia for various reasons including: terminal illness, unbearable physical suffering, and the inability to participate in activities that make life enjoyable. There are three primary types of euthanasia, each with its own legal implications. They are: Voluntary euthanasia, Non-voluntary euthanasia and Involuntary euthanasia (illegal).
FAQ’s on Euthanasia
Question 1.
What is Euthanasia?
Answer:
Euthanasia is the act of ending a person’s life to relieve pain and suffering. Usually, this option is reserved for individuals who are terminally ill and suffer excruciating pain. Regardless, euthanasia is a controversial and divisive issue and will likely continue to be. The right to die with dignity is an important issue for many people, but it can also be a threat to vulnerable populations.
Question 2.
What are the various types of Euthanasia?
Answer:
Euthanasia are classified into 3 primary types. These are as follows:
- Voluntary euthanasia
- Non-voluntary euthanasia
- Involuntary euthanasia
Question 3.
What is voluntary euthanasia?
Answer:
Voluntary euthanasia is the process in which a person makes the conscious decision to end his or her life. A person who chooses to die by voluntary euthanasia is usually terminally ill and in a lot of pain. They are often unable to carry out basic day-to-day tasks, so they use voluntary euthanasia as a release from their agony. This form of euthanasia is legal in across many countries.
Question 4.
What is Non-voluntary Euthanasia?
Answer:
Non-voluntary euthanasia is often considered as an option when the concerned individual is no longer available to make conscious decisions as they might be in a persistent vegetative state or is brain dead. This type of euthanasia is legal in some countries, however, certain conditions exist.
Question 5.
What is Involuntary euthanasia?
Answer:
Involuntary euthanasia is the act of euthanising a person without their consent. It is illegal in every country and is considered to be murder.