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Euthanasia in today's society brings about many disagreements about the rights and wrongs of euthanasia. Although death is unavoidable for human beings, suffering before death is unbearable not only for terminal patients but also for the family members and friends. Euthanasia comes from the Greek word "Thanatos" meaning death and the prefix "Eu" meaning easy or good (Russell 94). Thus, "eu- Thanatos” means easy or good death. Euthanasia is a better choice for terminal patients than suicide. In our society, suicide is always traumatic for families and friends. If there is no alternative to relieve the suffering of terminal patients, then the more humane option to suicide is euthanasia. An option for people that are unsure of euthanasia is called DNR or do not resuscitate (McCuen 2). This means that if the patient has a heart attack or another potentially fatal problem in the hospital, the doctors are told to perform a " No Code" which means that they should let the patien!t die peacefully with any amount of painkillers or medication requested by the patient (McCuen 3). Doctors that are treating a dying patient should treat them with care. They should make them as comfortable as possible and giv
water into the patient. Then when the patient was ready, she pressed a button that released a chemical agent that induced unconsciousness. After about five minutes, the machine delivered a lethal dose of potassium chloride (Levine 115). Some people think that euthanasia is not acceptable in our society because of a variety of reasons. Many who oppose of euthanasia fear that if it were to be legalized then many people would die needlessly and murders in so-called "mercy killings" would run rampant (Satris 262). Others believe that since we are the property of God then we should wait until He is ready to receive us (Russell 93). Many churches and religious groups oppose euthanasia stating that the sixth commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" also extends to euthanasia. But this also raises many questions. Why do these churches and religious groups specifically target euthanasia as horrific killing when there is war in this world? Every day countries send troops to kill and to be kill! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ if an elderly patient is entered into a hospital, they are immediately deemed to be frail and are treated like terminal patients. The thought of euthanasia as a choice instead of a cure may prompt doctors to prematurely induce death (McCuen 2). The recovery from an illness requires that we fight it. If we know that there is an easy way out, such as euthanasia, then the human consciousness instinctively tries to take that way out (Satris 262). Other problematic situations with euthanasia are that a person with a non-terminal disease may blindly choose euthanasia without a settled desire to die (Haifetz 21). It is also likely that a person who chooses euthanasia may change his or her mind at the last moment and then it is obviously too late Heifetz 21). On the other hand, a growing number of people believe that euthanasia is acceptable in our society because it relieves the unnecessary pain and suffering of patients and their family. Euthanasia is also a good way for people tha! Russell, Ruth. Freedom to Die.New York: Human Sciences Press, 1977. Society for the Right to Die. The Physician and the Hopelessly Ill Patient.New York: Society for the Right to Die, 1985. William, J. Gay. "The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia." Intervention and Reflection: Basic Issues in Medical Ethics. Ed. Ronald Munson. Gilford, Connecticut: Dushkin Publishing Group Inc, 1979 Levine, Carol. Is Physician-Assisted Suicide
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Approximate Word count = 1662
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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