medical and ethical controversy as abortion. Both issues involve the termination

of a life, and both conjure strong arguments for advocacy and opposition.

Pro-euthanasia arguments emphasize the right of patients to choose their own

death, the duty of the physician to end pain and suffering, and the ability of

legalization to establish guidelines which create lucidity on when and how

euthanasia should be performed. Anti-euthanasia arguments, on the other hand,

emphasize the sanctity of life, the commitment of physicians to save lives, and the

possible dangers of mistakes. These are all important considerations. However,

in determining the ethics of euthanasia: religious values, opinions of the morality

involved, and interpretations of physician commitments should take a second seat

to the consideration of whether pain and suffering is uncontrollable, whether a

patient has a chance of recovering, and the development of extensive guidelines

by which physicians can make better decisions regarding euthanasia.

The definition of euthanasia can be subdivided into two parts: active and

passive. Passive euthanasia, the version deemed more acceptable by m

Death of Terminally Ill Patients." Journal of Social Issues. Summer

physicians cannot always know the wishes of the patient, especially when the

We Have Made It Acceptable to Starve or Dehydrate Themselves to

conservatives and anti-euthanasia advocates to be the humane method of

firm diagnosis of persistent vegetative state, 58 percent recovered

much time is left; and also that physicians can misdiagnose and label a patient as

partner had to watch her slowly die over a period of two weeks. In a descriptive

matters and there has been too little attention paid to the issue in medical

26. 28 Oct. 2000. who was talking of committing suicide, and subsequently killed himself

Some common words found in the essay are:
Free Inquiry, Euthanasia Euthanasia, Malcolm Dean, Archives Neurology, Janet Adkins, Medical Association, National Review, Issues Summer, People Campbell, Supreme Court, oct 2000, 2000 *http//webluisfclaedu, medical treatment, oct 2000 *http//webluisfclaedu, active euthanasia, social issues summer, 52 2, euthanasia definition, 28 oct, issues summer, assisted suicide, journal social issues, issues summer 1996, journal social, 28 oct 2000,
Approximate Word count = 1405
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)