YOUR EUTHANASIA RESOURCE
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Euthanasia is the deliberate killing of a person for the benefit
of that person.
In most cases euthanasia is carried out because the person who
dies asks for it, but there are cases called euthanasia where a
person can't make such a request.
A person who undergoes euthanasia is usually terminally ill,
they would prefer to end their life rather than continue until
their body finally gives up. Does the state have a right to deny
them their wish?
Euthanasia means a good death and voluntary means acting at
one's own choice.
Therefore, euthanasia can be defined as the intentional killing
by act or omission of a dependent human being. Ultimately,
euthanasia is a question of choice: empowering people to have
control over their own bodies.
Unless a person lives in a country where euthanasia is permitted
( some as Colombia, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands or the
state of Oregon have already adopted this system) the only
lawful option is to remain alive, often in intractable pain,
until your body finally collapses.
But do we really have the right to force people living?
Insistence, against the patient's wishes, that death be
postponed by every means available is contrary to the law; it is
cruel and inhumane.
Too often people associate euthanasia with Nazi Germany in 1939.
In October of 1939, Hitler ordered
widespread "mercy killing" of
the sick and disabled. Code named "Aktion T 4," the Nazi
euthanasia program to eliminate "life unworthy of life" at first
focused on newborns and very young children. Doctors were
required to register children up to age three who showed
symptoms of mental retardation, physical deformity, or other
symptoms included on a questionnaire from the Reich Health
Ministry.
The Nazi euthanasia program quickly expanded to include older
disabled children and adults.
It has to be clear that what is called euthanasia is only for
people who are "terminally ill". There are many definitions for
the word "terminal". For example, "any disease that curtails
life" or "terminal old age". Some laws define "terminal"
condition as one from which death will occur in a "relatively
short time".
This last definition can not work as experts know that it is
virtually impossible to predict the life expectancy of a
particular patient. Therefore, the decision must come from the
patient.
What we may be scared about is only that voluntary euthanasia
leads to involuntary euthanasia; but pposition to legalized
voluntary euthanasia based on the fear of abuse is misguided,
because the current prohibition means that euthanasia continues
in secret without any regulations to prevent from abuse.
Many faith groups within Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other
religions believe that God gives life and therefore only God
should take it away. According to them, suicide is a rejection
of God's sovereignty and loving plan.
"A man, even if seriously sick or prevented in the exercise of
its higher functions, is and will be always a man ... he will
never become a 'vegetable' or an 'animal" the Pope said. He
added that "the intrinsic value and personal dignity of every
human being does not change depending on their circumstances“.
Against all will, voluntary euthanasia shows greater respect for
life, not less as we may think. We can’t have respect for life
if we require people who are hopelessly ill and suffering
intolerably to live on, in that condition against their will.
This new point is very important: patients who are incurably ill
and suffering unbearably may quite rationally be depressed and
wish to die. However, if the euthanasia request is not
appropriate to the patient's condition, the doctor will have no
mandate to proceed.
Opponents of voluntary euthanasia are right to point out the
potential for abuse, this is why legislation must have
safeguards to protect vulnerable patients.
According to Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of
person". Article 5 adds "No one shall be subjected to torture or
to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". If no
one shall be subjected to torture, then are we letting them
suffer that they prefer dying?
Euthanasia is not about the right to die. It's about the right
to kill. Euthanasia is not about giving rights to the person who
dies but, instead is about changing the law so that doctors can
intentionally end another person's life. People do have the
power to commit suicide. Suicide is not criminalized; it is just
an individual act.
Euthanasia should be allowed when it is in the best interests of
all involved and does not violate anyone's rights. We all have
to die one day or another, why making it come sooner would be a
bad thing? I would like to be allowed a good death myself, so I
must allow one for everyone else who wants one.