Persuasive Essay on Euthanasia Should Be Legalized

It was the middle of the night and 25-year-old Nancy Beath Cruzan was driving home from work, and hit a big patch of slick ice. Her car went out of control and flipped several times. She was thrown out of the car more than 30 feet from where the car had stopped.  When the police and medics arrived she was pronounced dead; However, they revived her at the scene of the accident. At the hospital, they managed to stabilize her, but she was in a coma. Years went by and her parents hoped she would recover someday, but that day never came. Eventually, Nancy's family thought the thing she would want the most would be to pass away peacefully. However, the government would not allow it because they did not think it was right to remove her from life support. Cruzan’s family took it to court. The question is did they have the legal right to do so? 

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme court of Missouri decision ruling in favor of the state of Missouri that it was acceptable to require “clear and convincing evidence” of the specific individual patient’s wishing to remove life support. Cruzan vs. Missouri was appealed to the US Supreme Court, which affirmed (5-4) the Missouri decision, on the grounds that an incompetent person does not have the same constitutionally protected right as a competent person to refuse life-sustaining treatment. 

In fact, from the New York Times  Essay “The Right To Die”  Euthanasia is already sanctioned by law in several European countries Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland. It is also sanctioned in some US States: Oregon, California, and Washington as well. Additionally, fFrom “Aid in dying” by Donna Casey, Euthanasia comes in different forms: active Euthanasia, (intentional killing of a patient by the administration of a lethal dose of medication by another person) voluntary active Euthanasia, (intentional killing of a patient by the administration of a lethal dose of medication by another person of request for the recipient), involuntary Euthanasia (intentional killing of a patient by the administration of a lethal dose of medication by administration done when the patient is incapacitated from illness). As explained in “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, the right to die is predicated on larger cultural understandings of autonomy. Autonomy in turn is centered around the assumption of choice that individuals can make health-related decisions based on a rational calculation. Euthanasia is a touchy subject to discuss by both opponents and proponents because both sides have reasons to support their beliefs. The opponents believe Euthanasia is morally wrong and an act of suicide. Though the proponents believe it offers an enhanced death and allows the person the freedom of choice over one’s life. People should understand that the choice of Euthanasia is the individual's right to make. 

 Euthanasia is a touchy subject that many people have discussed; the issue being whether it is right or wrong. It’s the decision over life and death that opponents find to be morally wrong. In the article,  “The Right To Die” from the Issues And Controversies database, physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients when legalized is little more than state-sanctioned killing. There may be some truth to this idea but in reality: people decide on Euthanasia because they are terminally ill and subject to intense pain.  Shown in “The Right To Die” By Issues And Controversies, people with a terminal illness can use Euthanasia as a way to escape the pain and suffering from a slow death. If one knows he is going to die and the pain is unbearable,  what is the point of suffering when you can decide not to suffer anymore. In addition, in “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, there is an argument between family members about whether or not the use of Euthanasia is just or unjust.  Euthanasia could create problems within the family, however as stated in, “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, Euthanasia allows for the dignity of others especially family and loved ones. Euthanasia opponents quote in, “The Right To Die” By Issues And Controversies, that the  American Medical Association’s code of medical ethics states “Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer”.  This is true: doctors are supposed to save lives not take them. found, however, as stated in “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, the individual's desire is for self-determination; to choose a course of action that is both free from constraints opposed by others and in accordance with personal values. 

 Opponents believe that Euthanasia enables the encouragement of suicide. Noted in  “Physician-assisted Death” by Govert Den Hartogh, the problem of patients having depression and signs of suicide are indications of an individual not being of sound mind to make such a decision. This would be true but indicated in “Physician-assisted Death” by Govert Den Hartogh, one must follow the laws set in place before the act of Euthanasia can be enacted. The article,  “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, states that people who are pro-euthanasia see their autonomy robed by the medical system, not by their disease. Noted in, “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, and in the words of Kathy (a Euthanasia proponent) “well we pretty much control our lives don't we until we hit the end so why can't we control that too”?  According to “Physician-assisted Death” by Govert Den Hartogh,  people suffering from a terminal painful disease that is not allowed to end their life through Euthanasia turn to violent means of death, i.e. suicide leading to traumatic results for others.  Succinctly stated in “Paradox of Choice” by Ari Gandsman, medically assisted death equals hope whereas suicide equals hopelessness.

Consider this. Euthanasia proponents and opponents are at an impasse-both have presented sound, factual reasons to support their beliefs. However, Euthanasia is an issue that is based on cultural understandings of self-determination, this, in turn, is centered around choices that individuals can make, health-related decisions based on rational thought, thus Euthanasia is different from suicide. Going forward Euthanasia should be legalized. A continuing issue is the ethics and morality of Euthanasia. Ultimately Euthanasia may be less an act of self-determination and choice but an ending fulfillment of responsibilities to others, even an act of care that can serve as a final gift intended for others. 

Work Cited 

Casey, Donna. “Aid in Dying on the Medical-Surgical Unit.” MEDSURG Nursing, vol. 27, no. 6, Nov. 2018, pp. 392–396. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=133645967&site=ehost-live.

den Hartogh, Govert. “Two Kinds of Physician-Assisted Death.” Bioethics, vol. 31, no. 9, Nov. 2017, pp. 666–673. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/bioe.12371.

Fireside, Bryna J. Cruzan V. Missouri: The Right to Die Case. Enslow Publishers, 1999.

“Opinion | The Right to Die.” The New York Times, 5 October 2005, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/05/opinion/the-right-to-die.html. Accessed 10 January 2022.

Gandsman, Ari. “Paradox of Choice and the Illusion of Autonomy: The Construction of Ethical Subjects in Right-to-Die Activism.” Death Studies, vol. 42, no. 5, May 2018, pp. 329–335. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/07481187.2017.1396646.

“Opinion | The Right to Die.” The New York Times, 5 October 2005, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/05/opinion/the-right-to-die.html. Accessed 10 January 2022.

“Right to Die.” Issues & Controversies, Infobase, 17 Sept. 2019, icof.infobase.com/articles/QXJ0aWNsZVRleHQ6MTYyNzM=. Accessed 19 Jan. 2022.