Euthanasia..Justifying Your Right to Die
Over the years, the practice of physician-assisted suicide, affectionately know as euthanasia, has evolved into one of the biggest social issues in the United States and the world. There have been many controversies over whether or not euthanasia is justified. To some people in the United States, euthanasia is considered murder while to others it is seen as completely understandable. Life belongs to the one person living it. The decision whether to end or continue that life is completely up to that one party. If someone felt, for very good reason, that there was nothing left for them on earth but more pain and suffering, there is no one who should legally be allowed to tell them they are wrong and force them on until natural death. With the right steps taken and specific rules surrounding guided suicide, making it a legal practice makes sense and is something this country should take serious steps towards looking into. The argument is often made that if a person is in a lot of pain and has been suffering for quite a while; their mental capacity to make a life or death decision is impaired. For others who oppose euthanasia, fear of a "slippery slope" would follow its legalizat
Euthanasia is so controversial, no matter what the legal outcome, people will remain true to there beliefs. It must be made clear though, that no matter how someone feels towards a specific topic, it is an American right to have the freedom of choice and the freedom to control your own life as long as you are not hurting anyone else in the process. Allowing physician-assisted suicide to be legal is the right American thing to do. Finally, a main issue discussed a lot when euthanasia is brought up would be the idea that it is not up to us to decide whether we should live or die. That decision is one that belongs to God. Chaput says, "God, in the view of many Americans, is the author of life and it's only true 'owner.' Life is God's gift" (231). If He is the creator of life, then all should show their appreciation for their lives by living them to the fullest even in times of hardship and suffering. If that is done, we will die when God deems it necessary. By cutting lives short, even if it is under very specific conditions, doctors are "playing God" and assuming the position to decide when death should come. As for people concerned that suffering caused from a disease or illness can be confused with depression, Arthur Rifkin, a professor of psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NYC, writes, "Several studies have shown that depression associated with physical illness does not respond to antidepressant drugs, but no studies have included terminally ill patients" (225). This means that if depression is detectable and it is obviously not associated with the disease, doctors can make a fair assessment as to whether or not that person has the capability to decide if the procedure is a possibility for themselves. ion. This means that once it is legal to do this, the procedure may be taken advantage of and administered too often and for more selfish reasons either from the family or the health care professional. And a third reason why many disagree with helping someone along the way to suicide would be the religious aspect of the procedure. Some say it should be left into the hands of God to decide the fate of human being. Taking a life is playing the role of God and is strongly opposed and sometimes equated with murder. If physician-assisted suicide was to be made
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Approximate Word count = 1565
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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