Euthanasia and Whether Dying Is or Isnt a Right Essays

March 31, 1976 was the day the New Jersey Supreme Court gave the parents of Kathleen Quinland, a young comatose woman, permission to take her off of life support systems. This is the day which is believed to be the birth of the modern right-to-die movement. Euthanasia, commonly known as mercy killing, is a way to end the agony of those who are suffering from terminal illnesses and should be legalized instead of having to be preformed in secrecy. The medical and ethical concerns focus on the health care delivery system as it impacts end-of-life decisions. There are three categories that this can be broken into. They are the quality of life, how decisions at the end of life are made, and the physician’s changing role in end-of-life†¦show more content†¦According to the Roman Catholic Church, there is an obligation to continue to supply nutrition and hydration to the unconscious patient (Larue, 88). The brain of the patient may still function but it would not be in a normal way. They would be conscious but they wouldn’t be capable to express how they are feeling. There would be no way of telling how the patient feels or what their needs or wants may be, and contrary to what they think, the body of the patient will most likely not survive without the aid of the life support systems (Battin, 72). Even if the patient were to come out of this vegetative state he or she would be severely disabled, so constant medical attention would be required for the rest of their lives(Roberts, 26). There is a fine line in defining the rights of the individual, responsibilities of the doctor, and the criteria used in making end-of-life decisions. How decisions are made is a very complicated one. The decision should be between the patient and the doctor. Since the patient is the only one that can determine how he or she feels about his or her position, it is ultimately up to them but it sh ouldn’t be hidden from their family and friends (Roberts, 138). The timing and the manner of death are personal decisions. It should not be made by doctors, a hospital, or courts, but by the patients, unless deemed incompetent. If they are deemed incompetent then the decision should beShow MoreRelatedEuthanasia: The Pros and Cons1281 Words   |  6 Pages Euthanasia: The pros Anatomy Durkos Sarah Carter Jan 6, 2013 Over the years there has been a debate on whether euthanasia is a â€Å"humane† form of death. Some believe it isnt humane and others believe euthanasia is personal choice. Euthanasia is legal Australia and in four states in the united states. The legality of euthanasia is based on ethics primarily. I am pro euthanasia for many reasons; Euthanasia is cheaper, it ends the suffering of patients, and self determinism. Read MoreEssay on Euthanasia Needs to be a Legal Option1376 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia Needs to be a Legal Option    Warren Hauser is dying. Should the Supreme Court decide that terminally ill Americans have a constitutional right to commit suicide with a doctors help, he would qualify. Emphysema and valvular heart disease have left him debilitated and physically dependent (Byock). For terminally ill patients like Warren, where death is inevitable and would be less painful than living, euthanasia should be a legal option. Euthanasia is Greek for easy or happy deathRead More Rebutting Arguments to Legalize Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide1711 Words   |  7 PagesArguments to Legalize Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide      Ã‚   This essay focuses on several of the most common arguments in favor of the legalization of euthanasia or assisted suicide - and rebuts them. The language is simple, or, as they say, in laymans terms so as to be easily understandable. 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In fact, throughout history euthanasia has been a debate in many countries, some areas accepting the practice, whereas others find it unacceptable. Many people and professionals continue to refer to the Hippocratic Oath, an vow stating the proper conduct for doctors, and its famous wordsRead MoreWhy Euthanasia is Wrong Essay1256 Words   |  6 Pagesunacceptable. No one has the right to take away another persons life, whether it be through hatred and disgust, or compassion and love. Murder is murder. So why should those select few who work in the clinics of Switzerland, whose occupation is to assist in a person’s suicide, become immune from this law against murder. It is them who provide the patient with, and administer, the method of how they are going to die. To me, that sounds li ke murder. 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Euthanasia or assisted suicide is causing the death of a person who is disea se, suffering from a condition that is not curable. To end their suffering the individuals end their lives, but are important to keep in consideration that in order for the individual to make such a big decision they must be in the right state of mind. One ofRead MoreEuthanasi A Very Gentle And Easy Death1303 Words   |  6 PagesThe term Euthanasia is derived from the Greek words, Eu (good) and Thanatosis (death) meaning a very gentle and easy death. The definition of euthanasia has now come down to â€Å"the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.† Therefore, this term can be also called â€Å"mercy killing†. In this sense euthanasia means the active or inactive death of a patient. This form of