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Euthanasia
"It is conceivable, that life can deteriorate to the point where
persons lose their dignity and self-respect and are unable to communicate;
life in such a form no longer meets meets the basic criteria of human-
ness." (O'Keefe, A1) Under these circumstances only should Euthanasia be
practiced and then only passively ("pulling the plug"). "Dutch Death",
Euthanasia, doctor assisted suicide, whatever you want to call it, it
should not be legalized.
People should live their lives for as long as long as it is worth
living. As long as someone can still have experiences and communicate with
others, they should go on living. Someone may have six months to live and
decides to end their life rematurely, saying that they are going to die
anyway, why bother with waiting. It is the same with anyone. Everyone will
eventually die, so why doesn't every one just kill themselves now? It is
because there are things they want to do and see, there is life they still
have yet to experience. The same thing is true for a terminably ill person,
they could do alot in that six months. They write an autobiography or a
novel, do a lot of reading or traveling, who knows? It has been said that
trials and pain make us stronger. Even if someone is in pain, that pain
could make them mentally stronger than if they give up and take the easy
way out. Life is pain, everyone goes through pain in their lives, but most
stick it out to the end, not giving up taking the easy way out. As long as
a person still is able to know what is happening around them and can
interact with the world around them it should be illegal for doctors to aid
in their suicide.
"Some say that doctor-aided death is widespread already, only
covertly, and that the Netherlands is a model of how to establish the right
to die by bringing the practice out in the open, where the medical and
legal system can oversee it. (O'Keefe, A1+)" This issue is compared to how
abortion was before it was legalized. "The main reason for legalization of
abortion was because it was being done anyway. People HAD access to
abortion, it was just being done terribly. We're in exactly the same
situation today: People do have access to assisted suicide--it's just
being done so badly. (Shavelson, 39)" Just because something is done does
not mean that it should be legal. Many things that are illegal are done
anyway. Look at drugs, underage drinking, drunk driving, and speeding;
these things are all illegal and are frequently practiced. Should these or
other things be legallized just because they are done anyway? This is not
a valid reason for leagalizing anything.
Where would it end if the practice of euthanasia were to be legalized,
how far would it go? Would it end with assisted death for the terminably
ill? The world looks to the Netherlands as the only working model of
assisted death, a nation known for its open aproach to abortion,
prostitution and drug use. "A `coffieshop' next to an Amsterdam police
station has on its menu hash and maijuana, one-forth of an ounce for 25
gulden, about $15. A block away a movie theater is showing the film,
`Brutally Raped,' accompanied by an advertisement that it is banned in most
countries. Hookers stand in store windows of the red light district.
(O'Keefe, A1+)" This country has an open approach to things that most
people frown on and yet many "right to die" activists look to it as an
example of what to make ourselves into. If we started with the terminably
ill, would we stop there, or would we continue on. Perhaps any physically
deformed people, then anyone with a disease, next any elderly people
without much will left. Maybe the doctors would start going around
euthanizing anyone they deemed fit for death. Then perhaps we would become
like a dog or cat and instead of bothering to heal us we would just be put
down. Who knows where it would end. These examples are pretty radical,
but once we take that first step there is no telling where it will end.
Sometimes change is needed in society, sometimes things must change to
fit societies needs. Some things, however, can never change; it will
always be wrong to steal, it will always be wrong to kill, and it will
allways be wrong to kill someone.
Works cited
Henry, Sarah. "The Battle Over Assisted Suicide: A Time to Die"
California Lawyer, January, 1996
O'Keefe, Mark. "Doctor Assisted Suicide: Dutch Death"
The Oregonian, January 8, 1995. ppA1+
Shavelson, Lonny. A Chosen Death; The Dying confront Assisted Suicide,
January, 1994
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
Euthanasia Overview
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A Definitive Argument On Euthanasia
Euthanasia is a very controversial topic, one that provokes both anger and sympathy. There are considered to be two kind
Euthanasia: Precious Life
My impression is that the idea of euthanasia, if not the practice, is gradually gaining acceptance within our society. P
Euthanasia: The Right To Die
Euthanasia is a very controversial topic. People argue as to whether or not a person who is terminally ill, or handicap,
Euthanasia: The Right To Die
Euthanasia is a very controversial topic. People argue as to whether or not a person who is terminally ill, or handicap,
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