Euthanasia And The Moral Right To Die
"The third night that I roomed with Jack in our tiny double room, in the solid-tumor ward of the cancer clinic of the National Institute of Health in Maryland, a terrible thought occurred to me. Jack had a melanoma in his belly, a malignant solid tumor that the doctors guessed was the size of a softball. The doctors planned to remove the tumor, but they knew Jack would soon die. The cancer had now spread out to control. Jack, about 28, was in constant pain, and his doctor had prescribed an intravenous shot, a pain killer, and this would control the pain for perhaps two hours or a bit more. Then he would begin to moan, or whimper, very low, as though he didn't want to wake me. Then he ...
Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers
|
us to ask why a dying dog is entitled to more humane treatment than a human in the same condition. Finding a humane and sensible approach to treating the terminally ill has become a hotly debated topic in recent years. One approach to this problem is euthanasia, which by definition mean "a painless death, a mercy killing"(Webster's 190). In other words, euthanasia is causing the death of someone who is already dying and in such pain that their continued existence will only produce continued unbearable suffering. There are two forms of euthanasia, passive and active. Passive euthanasia is an accepted medical practice where the terminally ill patient is allowed to die. Passive euthanasia takes place when the patient refuses treatment. "The patient may refuse food, medical treatment or may demand to be taken off respirators. Unfortunately, this treatment can result in a lingering, drawn out, and times agonizing death"(Westley 157 ). Active euthanasia is the taking of one's ...
Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.
Already a member? Login
|
CITE THIS PAGE:
Euthanasia And The Moral Right To Die. (2005, April 12). Retrieved May 28, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia-And-The-Moral-Right-Die/25236
"Euthanasia And The Moral Right To Die." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 12 Apr. 2005. Web. 28 May. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia-And-The-Moral-Right-Die/25236>
"Euthanasia And The Moral Right To Die." Essayworld.com. April 12, 2005. Accessed May 28, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia-And-The-Moral-Right-Die/25236.
"Euthanasia And The Moral Right To Die." Essayworld.com. April 12, 2005. Accessed May 28, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia-And-The-Moral-Right-Die/25236.
|
Save
Report