Good Euthanasia: Is It Right Essay Example

Euthanasia is a Greek word, meaning ‘good death.’ It refers to killing intentionally by act or omission of a dependent human being, purportedly, for his own good. There are different forms of euthanasia. It can be voluntary when an individual gives the go ahead for his life to be ended, or involuntary when the individual gives no consent. Assisted suicide, on the other hand, describes the scenario where one chooses the method he prefers to be used to take his or her life. Euthanasia can be active or passive. Active involves the use of lethal injection. While passive involves withdrawal of care. The debate about euthanasia classical and cuts across aspects of the society such as human rights, legal, religious, ethical and cultural aspects. From the medical point of view, and considering the plight of the patient and the care giver, I believe that euthanasia is necessary.
Consider a case where a patient is suffering from terminal illness like prostate cancer. In such a case, the patient may be undergoing pain and suffering. Furthermore, the anticipation of death may take a toll on him mentally. On the other hand, the caregiver may be physically and emotionally drained from seeing the life of the patient leaving him as the days go by. If such a patient decides that enough is enough, the pain is unbearable and wishes to end it, what do you do? Do you let him suffer for the few days left and face his inevitable death or do you apply euthanasia as an act of mercy? We may argue that the right to life is superior to the right to death, which, under normal circumstances, is true. The right to life is enjoyable when the life is safe and secure. Life cannot be secure if it is full of pain and suffering and if there no possible remedy to the condition. Euthanasia comes in handy in such situations.
Under law, the patient has the right to accept or refuse treatment, even when the treatment may prolong or sustain life. A patient suffering from brain damage can refuse to be fed through nasogastric tube. The doctor or the nurse, under such circumstances, must recognize the right of the patient giving way for passive euthanasia. Other patients suffering from chronic illness or in persistent vegetative states may feel that they are a burden to their caregivers. Their illness may be draining their families emotionally and financially. For instance, a case of brain damage may lead to paralysis from the neck to the legs. A patient with this condition may ask to have his life terminated to relieve the family the burden of having to look after him. In addition, such a patient will view his life as unproductive and ask for euthanasia in order to die with dignity.
The number of patients visiting the emergency department in the United States is high. According to the American Hospital Association, 38% of emergency departments were over capacitated. Most patients are brought into emergency rooms in critical conditions or in vegetative states, and are put on life support. The cost of caring, in terms of money and time, for patients with no chance of survival is high. Euthanasia can be applied in such instances and the resources channeled towards saving the lives of patients who can be cured. Euthanasia can provide an opportunity for organ donation, particularly in terminally ill patients. These organs are in turn given to patients with organ failure, hence saving their lives. In such a case, euthanasia gives ‘right to life’ to the patient with organ failure.
The arguments against euthanasia are based on religious, legal, ethical and cultural aspects of the society. Those who argue against it say that if society embraces ‘right to death with dignity’ those with incurable or terminal diseases will be disposed from the society. They, instead champion for palliative care to look after such patients. In many countries, every citizen has the right to life and suicide or murder is, therefore, not compatible with the concept. The State has the duty to protect the life of its citizen. The duty of the physician is to provide care to a patient. Legalization of euthanasia may reduce the quality of care given to patients with terminal illness. Those who view the issue from a religious point of view argue that life is a precious gift from God, and it is only Him with the right to take it away.
In conclusion, euthanasia is right when applied appropriately. Killing is wrong, however, under certain conditions where a patient faces death due to an irreversible illness, euthanasia provides an opportunity for right to death with dignity. It also helps to channel resources to care for patients with a chance of survival. There may be cases where a physician may use euthanasia to cover for a medical error. To avoid such, laws should be passed to ensure euthanasia applies only when appropriate.