Essay Sample on Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient’s suffering. The patient in question would typically be terminally ill or experiencing great pain and suffering.

The word “euthanasia” originated from the Greek words “EU” (good) and “Thanatos” (death). The idea is that instead of condemning someone to a slow, painful, or undignified death, euthanasia would allow the patient to experience a relatively good death.

'Right-to-die’ proponents argue that people who suffer from an incurable, degenerative, disabling, or debilitating condition should be allowed to die in dignity since patients are in a persistent vegetative state, can't live a normal life, and find it difficult to survive on their own without life support making their life miserable. 

Additionally, they do not want to burden their family members with caring for them and bearing financial burdens. Thus, euthanasia may be seen as a way to uphold the 'Right to life' while honoring the "Right to die with dignity."The practice of palliative care would provide relief from distressing symptoms and pain, and support to the patient as well as the caregiver. Palliative care is active, compassionate, and creative care for the dying.

Euthanasia for terminally ill patients offers an opportunity to advocate for organ donation, which in turn would help other patients who need transplants. Euthanasia not only gives patients the right to die but also enables them to donate organs to those in need.

Furthermore, euthanasia should be a natural extension of the patient's rights allowing him to decide the value of life and death for him. Maintaining life support systems against the patient's wish is considered unethical by law as well as medical philosophy. If the patient has the right to discontinue treatment why would he not have the right to shorten his lifetime to escape the intolerable anguish? Isn’t the pain of waiting for death frightening and traumatic?

On the other hand, mercy killing is morally incorrect and should be forbidden by law as it’s a homicide, and murdering another human cannot be rationalized under any circumstances. Every life is sacred and killing a person just because of a condition is not justifiable. The emergence of advanced medical technology has made it possible to enhance human life span and quality of life. Palliative care and rehabilitation centers are better alternatives to help the disabled or patients approaching death live pain-free and better life.

Another factor is that if euthanasia is acceptable by law then should suicide be considered as a person takes up their lives due to severe mental pressure and consistent pain. Human life deserves exceptional security and protection.

Those opposed to euthanasia argue that by embracing the right to death with dignity, we are disposing of people with incurable and debilitating illnesses from society.