essay on euthanasia pros and cons

Pros and Cons of Euthanasia from an Ethical Perspective Research Paper

Euthanasia is a controversial topic raising ethical concerns globally, such as whether a man has a right to dignified death or deprivation of life from a mercy reasons an unpunishable act. Answers to these questions differ from one state to another. If a state legalizes this form of life deprivation, it is questionable; conversely, taking an opposite view will also give rise to the same questions (Banović et al. 1). Therefore, euthanasia is an inexhaustible, hotly debated moral issue attracting different views, say pros and cons of legalizing euthanasia. Before arriving at the conclusion, I consulted Lydia, Dugdale et al. “Focus: Death: Pros and Cons of Physician Aid in Dying.” The Yale journal of biology and medicine, vol. 92, no.4, 2019, p.749. I believe that there are strong arguments in place both in opposition to and in favor of the practice of euthanasia; physicians have a moral responsibility to remain informed on this timely issue.

While the last two decades have been characterized by movements legalizing euthanasia, legislators worldwide have seemed to discriminate against it as a mild form of depriving life. Primarily, this is apparent on American soil, in which some states decriminalized euthanasia, although the supreme court maintained that there is no law that legalized the practice nor the ban of the mentioned act (Banović et al. 2). On the contrary, such actions attract strict critics, which ultimately seek to eliminate penalties for criminals who facilitate deprivation of the patient life, who is terminally ill at their request. For instance, the consistent variation in an attitude of the Royal college of Physicians and British Medical Association from strict opposition to a neutral position indicates it is challenging to accept their attitude encouraging terminating one’s life (Dennis 28). Although such practices are illegal in the countries in the world, they exist everywhere.

The right to die with dignity is inevitably associated with morality and ethics. One question typically arises: could ethical and moral conducts be legalized, but the act be immoral as per the law. In this context, if we begin with the basic rule, euthanasia is only a tiny part of morality; whereby moral rule is higher than legal rules. In this regard, when a legislator discourages euthanasia, they should not discriminate against them because they carry the same weight. In the issues raised previously regarding the practice of euthanasia, a moral difference exists between killing the patient using anesthesia or letting nature takes its course. The supporters of this attitude assert that human life is sacred and it is immoral for anyone to take one’s life through euthanasia (Banović et al. 176). According to this theory, human life is a holy thing that God created; however, it is only meaningful when the brain is functional. The supporters of euthanasia practice these actions are moral, especially when a patient suffers from severe pain.

The removal of one’s immorality from euthanasia lies in the patient’s choice of will and cannot be bypassed. From Dworkin’s theory, the gross tyranny is to allow a person’s death justifiably by another person; at the same time, the interest of the patient lies in them instead of the physician’s discretion (Stith 292-295). The situation can exist in life in which the patient wants to shorten their lives despite the possibilities of their healing, where the autonomy of their will should be restricted. In such a situation, the patient’s autonomy will prevail, ending up taking their lives. In parallel, the patient may be willing to continue living, but the physician diagnosed that death is unavoidable. The practice of euthanasia of terminally dying patients is an uncivilized violation of ethical principles. Therefore, no one has the moral right to decide whether another person’s life is worth living, since, for some people, pain cannot be compared with values of life, while for others, the pain can be severe to the extent that life is meaningless.

Božidar, Banović et al. “An Ethical Review of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide.” Iranian Journal of public health , vol. 46, no. 2, 2017, pp. 173.

Patterson, Dennis. “Dworkin’s Criticisms of Hart’s Positivism.” The Cambridge Companion to Legal Positivism draft of 1 (2019).

Georg, Bosshard et al. “A role for doctors in assisted dying? An analysis of legal regulations and medical professional positions in six European countries.” Journal of medical ethics , vol.34, no. 1, 2008, pp. 28-32.

Lydia, Dugdale et al. “Focus: Death: Pros and Cons of Physician Aid in Dying.” The Yale journal of biology and medicine , vol. 92, no.4, 2019, pp. 747.

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Arguments for and against assisted suicide and euthanasia

Assisted suicide is where a doctor helps a patient to kill themselves by prescribing a lethal drug for the patient to take. This becomes euthanasia when the doctor administers the drug directly. There has been much debate in the UK in recent years over issues concerning the end of life. Here we briefly outline the main arguments for and against assisted suicide and euthanasia, and outline CARE's perspective on the issue. Below you will also find resources and further reading.

The Argu­ments For Assisted Sui­cide &  Euthanasia

“We have no control over how we arrive in the world but at the end of life we should have control over how we leave it.”

1 . We need it

This is 'the compassion argument'. Supporters of assisted suicide believe that allowing people to ‘die with dignity’ is kinder than forcing them to continue their lives with suffering.

2 . We want it

This is known as 'the autonomy argument'. Some believe that every patient has a right to choose when to die.

3 . We can con­trol it

This is 'the public policy argument'. Proponents believe that assisted suicide can be safely regulated by government legislation.

The Argu­ments Against Assisted Sui­cide &  Euthanasia

“The exper­i­ence of death is going to get more and more pain­ful, con­trary to what many people believe. The forth­com­ing euthanas­ia will make it more rather than less pain­ful because it will put the emphas­is on per­son­al decision in a way which was bliss­fully ali­en to the whole prob­lem of dying in former times. It will make death even more sub­ject­ively intol­er­able, for people will feel respons­ible for their own deaths and mor­ally oblig­ated to rid their rel­at­ives of their unwanted pres­ence. Euthanas­ia will fur­ther intensi­fy all the prob­lems its advoc­ates think it will solve.”

1 . Altern­at­ive treat­ments are available

Alternative treatments are available, such as palliative care and hospices. We do not have to kill the patient to kill the symptoms. Nearly all pain can be relieved.

2 . There is no ​ ‘ right’ to be killed and the slip­pery slope of assisted sui­cide is real

Opening the doors to voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide could lead to non-voluntary and involuntary euthanasia, by giving doctors the power to decide when a patient’s life is not worth living. In the Netherlands in 1990 around 1,000 patients were killed without their request.

3 . We could nev­er truly con­trol it.

Reports from the Netherlands, where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are legal, reveal that doctors do not always report it.

4 . The assump­tion that patients should have a right to die would impose on doc­tors a duty to kill

The assumption that patients should have a right to die would impose on doctors a duty to kill, thus restricting the autonomy of the doctor. Also, a ‘right to die’ for some people might well become a ‘duty to die’ by others, particularly those who are vulnerable or dependent upon others.

CARE’s Per­spect­ive: Why say no to euthanas­ia and assisted suicide?

What about per­son­al choice.

The pro-euthanasia and assisted suicide lobby emphasise the importance of personal choice and autonomy. Shouldn’t patients have the right to end their lives? Dignity in Dying patron, Sir Patrick Stewart has argued “We have no control over how we arrive in the world but at the end of life we should have control over how we leave it.”

Surely however the debate is not about the right to die; it is about the right to help patients kill themselves. Instead of giving freedom to patients, euthanasia and assisted suicide is about giving other people the legal power to end another person’s life.

Assisted suicide is not a private act. Nobody chooses assisted suicide in isolation. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are matters of public concern because they involve one person facilitating the death of another. Friends, relatives, healthcare staff and society are hugely affected by the wider ramifications of the process.

Journalist and author George Pitcher has said that any change in the law would have “profound adverse affects on the social fabric of our society, on our attitudes towards each other’s deaths and illnesses, on our attitudes towards those who are ill and have disabilities .”

Increased autonomy would apply only if you met all the criteria to be eligible. If you had a disease where the prognosis is not straightforward, dementia or a chronic but not terminal disease, then you would not meet the criteria; attempts to extend the law further would be almost inevitable. Assisted suicide is not a private act and there is a real risk that a ‘right to die’ may soon become a ‘duty to die’.

What about compassion?

The pro-euthanasia and assisted suicide lobby will often present the view that helping someone else to end their life is the most loving and compassionate thing to do. But surely the most compassionate thing to do is to care for a person at the end of their life and to show them that their life has tremendous value regardless of age or abilities.

Palliative care is an area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Britain is the only country in the world where palliative care is a recognised medical specialism . Further, in a recent survey by The Economist Britain was ranked first in the world for quality end-of-life care. The survey took in 40 OECD and non-OECD countries, including the USA, the Netherlands, Germany and France.

What about the most vulnerable?

Changing the law to allow euthanasia or assisted suicide will inevitably put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a financial, emotional or care burden upon others. This would especially affect people who are disabled, elderly, sick or depressed. Some would face the added risk of coercion by others who might stand to gain from their deaths. Fear and anxiety would be promoted rather than Individual autonomy.

In its 1994 report The House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics concluded:

“It was virtually impossible to ensure that all acts of euthanasia were truly voluntary and that any liberalisation of the law in the United Kingdom could not be abused. We were also concerned that vulnerable people – the elderly, lonely, sick or distressed – would feel pressure, whether real or imagined, to request early death.”

The law must protect the most vulnerable people in society. We must never let the depressed, the confused, those in terrible pain, the aged and the vulnerable feel that they should pursue the path of assisted suicide so as not to be a burden on others.

Dr Andrew Fergusson, of the Care Not Killing Alliance , has said “the simple truth is that the current law exists to protect those without a voice: the disabled, terminally ill and elderly, who might otherwise feel pressured into ending their lives”.

Studies concerning the euthanasia and assisted suicide law in countries that have legalised such measures make for troubling reading.

A study conducted in 2012 shows that 32% of the assisted deaths in Belgium are carried out without request and 47% of assisted deaths go unreported in the Flanders region of Belgium. Another recent study found that nurses are regularly euthanasing their patients in Belgium even though the laws prohibits it. Since euthanasia was legalised in 2002 there has not been one attempt to prosecute for abuses of the euthanasia law. In addition to this the study shows there was a 25% increase in the number of assisted deaths in Belgium in 2012.

In Oregon (where assisted suicide was legalised in 1997) the law has led to patients ‘doctor shopping’ for willing practitioners, using doctors who have minimal knowledge of their past. In 2008, 50 per cent of patients requesting suicide were assisted to die by a doctor who had been their physician for eight weeks or less .

Not all people who are ter­min­ally ill wish to end their life.

There have been tragic cases of people suffering terminable illness who want other people to help them end their life. It is important however that we do not lose sight of the large number of people who are terminally ill and have found richness and purpose in life despite the pain and hardship.

A survey published by the British Medical Journal in 2011 found that the majority of patients who are almost completely paralysed but fully conscious have said they are happy and do not want to die. The survey questioned 168 members of the French Association for Locked-in Syndrome.

Matthew Hampson was a promising young rugby player until a collapsing scrum left him paralysed from the neck down and requiring a ventilator to breathe. Matt divides his time between raising money for spinal care for UK charity Spinal Research, coaching youngsters at local schools and writing columns for rugby magazines. He has also written an autobiography. The Matt Hampson Foundation provides help, advice and for young people seriously injured through sport.

All life has pro­found human value.

We have to make clear that the value of life should not be determined by its benefit to others, or what it can contribute to society. The French biologist and philosopher Jean Rostand once said: “For my part I believe that there is no life so degraded, debased, deteriorated, or impoverished that it does not deserve respect and is not worth defending with zeal and conviction. ”

Assisted Suicide

Where assisted suicide is legal, it makes vulnerable people feel like a burden. CARE works to uphold laws that protect those people, and to assist them to live—not to commit suicide.

Some Useful Terms

Find out more what assisted suicide and euthanasia actually mean.

Assisted Suicide: What is the Christian perspective?

Explore biblical views on end of life issues.

Ten Ways to Pray for the End of Life

At CARE we believe it's better to care, not to kill. We want to pray for people approaching the end of their lives and for medical professionals who care for them. This resource will help you pray against euthanasia and for hospices and quality palliative care.

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18 Advantages and Disadvantages of Euthanasia

Euthanasia is a deliberate action that is taken by a physician or another party that knowingly results in the ending of a person’s life. This step is taken under most circumstances to end the persistent suffering that individuals experience because of a terminal illness, genetic disorder, or traumatic event. It is a process that, along with physician-assisted suicide, is against the law in most countries. These actions may even include a jail sentence if an individual is convicted of this practice.

Voters in Oregon approved the Death with Dignity Act in 1994, allowing a doctor to help a patient with a terminal illness find the peace they wanted. Part of this law required that the patient have only six months or fewer to live with their diagnosis. The Supreme Court ruled in 1990 that non-active euthanasia is permissible. Formal ethics committees in hospitals and nursing homes have existed since 1977 to encourage advanced health directives and living wills.

The Netherlands eliminated the criminalization of assisted suicide in 2002, loosening some of their restrictions at the same time euthanasia was approved for the first time in Belgium. Switzerland was one of the first nations to allow the practice, authorizing doctors in 1937 to help patients if ending their life did not provide them with a personal gain.

There are several advantages and disadvantages to consider with euthanasia, especially since it is such an emotive and sometimes controversial topic.

List of the Advantages of Euthanasia

1. We use euthanasia as the last resort when all other options are off the table. The average person or doctor is not going to support the proactive termination of a life when there is no suffering involved. Euthanasia is different than suicide, even though both actions end a life, because the former uses assistance and the latter does not. The goal with this help is to end the suffering of a lengthy death, especially if there is chronic and severe pain included with the process.

People often criticize pet owners for not taking them to the vet to end their suffering when something tragic occurs – even if it is only cancer or old age. When an individual wants to take the same action, then they receive criticism for it. How does that make sense?

2. The right to die should be a personal choice, not one that the government mandates. We have the right to choose numerous paths in life that can take us in a variety of different directions. Most of those actions receive very little, if any, governmental interference. When we start talking about euthanasia, the story becomes very different. There are some spiritual views of suicide that might influence this discussion, along with the personal difficulties that helping someone might cause, but someone with a terminal illness may wish to end their life on their own terms.

Incorporating Death with Dignity laws can help to make this a possibility. The decision remains in the hands of the patient at all times instead of going to a review panel. Then the patient is the one who takes the fatal prescription or starts the needed IV instead of the doctor so that it remains in a person’s control.

3. Doctors have a minimal role in the modern euthanasia process. One of the reasons why society might be against the idea of euthanasia is because of the actions of people like Dr. Jack Kevorkian in the past. Instead of allowing people with no threat of death to take their lives under supervision, the Death with Dignity Acts that have passed across the United States allow for voluntary physician inclusion. Even if you live in a place that allows this process, such as Washington State or Oregon, then you’re not required to perform this action.

Recent statistics show that less than 1% of doctors choose to participate in these programs. About 40% of those who wrote a legal lethal prescription had no knowledge as to whether or not the patient took the medication. That’s very different from Kevorkian, where 60% of his patients were not terminally ill.

4. There is more control over the final decisions in life. Like it or not, the end of a person’s life is the beginning of a financial journey for their loved ones. Debts are not wiped away at death. Your estate becomes responsible to pay off remaining obligations and handle other items of business. It can take years sometimes to settle complex financial issues. When euthanasia is part of the conversation for someone with a terminal illness, then there can be more planning involved to make this transition easier on everyone else.

By having more control over the final decision of life, the emotional and physical toll of an illness can be reduced for everyone involved. It’s not just relief for the person who is suffering. The rest of the family can find peace knowing that there is a planned time to create an end to this situation.

5. Patients can avoid the issue of caregiver guilt with euthanasia. One of the most significant challenges that occur with a terminal diagnosis is the emotions of guilt and shame that a patient has with regards to their caregivers. They begin to feel like a burden on the people they love, creating a reaction that can cause relationship challenges because it is only natural to push people away to help them to avoid pain. Legalizing euthanasia might not be a popular option in some circles, but it can create organization for the transitory time that everyone experiences in a situation such as this one.

By helping someone to find the physical peace they need, there can be a process of emotional healing that can help everyone push through their grief with greater consistency.

6. We use specific legal requirements to eliminate the threat of a mistaken identity. There are two primary concerns that the critics of euthanasia often express: helping an individual die without their permission or targeting an incorrect patient for this process. The states in the U.S. which have a Death with Dignity Act require that patients self-administer their lethal prescription. You must also be of sound mind when making this decision, and the law requires that you make it more than once after a waiting period.

If someone in an altered state or a patient with a mental disability issued a written request for euthanasia, it would be rejected for a lack of competency. Some jurisdictions require the presence of two witnesses as well, and they cannot be a relative or someone who would benefit from an estate inheritance.

7. Only a handful of people who are terminally ill take advantage of euthanasia laws. Whether you’re looking at data from Europe, the United States, or other countries which allow euthanasia in some way, the results are quite consistent. The people who qualify for this program is 0.3% or less of the general population. When you look at this specific group of people with a terminal illness who decide that this is the method they wish to use to end their life, the rate of adoption is typically less than 3%. Critics are often concerned about the idea that more people would choose suicide because of its accessibility, but the data doesn’t back up that idea.

These figures have been consistent since 2002 in the United States when the first Death with Dignity Act actions were taken. The results are similar to what Europe has experienced since the 1990s with their actions in this area as well.

8. Death is still going to happen, one way or the other. Is the way that a person dies really that important to the rest of society? The advantages and disadvantages of euthanasia should be rightfully debated, but it is not our place to dictate an outside sense of morality or ethics on a person who is trying to manage a terminal diagnosis. These people are already working toward an end-of-life scenario. If they decide not to take advantage of this legal process, there is an excellent chance that they will pass away in the near future anyway.

List of the Disadvantages of Euthanasia

1. The prediction of a terminal diagnosis is rarely accurate. During a 2005 study of terminal illness diagnoses by the Mayo Clinic, they found that only 1 in 5 patients received an accurate number. 17% of people who find themselves in this situation live for longer, sometimes much longer, than what the doctor initially recommends. That is why euthanasia encounters such resistance, even when there are legal definitions in place which allow for its use.

If about 1 in 5 people beat their diagnosis, then what else could be possible? It might be unrealistic to expect a medical miracle in every situation, but we should take an open and honest approach to these statistics.

2. There can be issues with consent when looking at euthanasia. The legalization of euthanasia works when a physician is willing to provide this option for their patient. There are times when a doctor is unwilling to provide a lethal prescription for their own ethical reasons, going back to the concept to “do no harm.” There are some in the medical field that believe the quality of death should be just as much a priority as the quality of life, but the idea of trying to recommend this option is something that critics find to b e a possibility in the future.

No one should ever go through a situation where they feel like their doctor is trying to talk them into the euthanasia process. Doctors need the option to get out of this program just as much as a patient deserves a second option.

3. Euthanasia medication doesn’t always deliver on its promised result. The State of Oregon tracked the results of patients who took lethal prescriptions as part of the Death with Dignity Act for two decades, starting in 1998. This data found that seven people regained consciousness after taking the medication, and one person was even alive after the study period still fighting their disease. Another 1,179 people out of 1,857 qualifying patients had a successful result from their encounter with the euthanasia program.

We must remember that the legalization of euthanasia is not a guaranteed outcome. When someone makes this decision and it doesn’t work as intended, it places them and their doctor into an almost impossible situation. Do you continue to treat the disease? Or do you attempt to help that person end their life once again.

4. Euthanasia could allow people to choose death for reasons that go beyond an illness. When surveying individuals who qualify for a euthanasia program, over 90% said that it was their “loss of autonomy” that was driving their decision – not the actual diagnosis of a terminal illness. The survey asked patients to choose any reason that applied, and 90% of people also chose a restriction in their usual activities as a primary factor in their choice.

Only 1 in 4 people who decide to pursue the idea of euthanasia say that pain is an influencing factor in their decision. If patients are using the Death with Dignity Act to have doctors help to end their life because they don’t like their “new normal,” then doesn’t that go against the purpose of this legislation in the first place?

5. Second opinions are not always necessary for euthanasia. The field of medicine is not an exact science, even if we know that there are certain outcomes that are likely in specific circumstances. If you have a bacterial infection, for example, then taking antibiotics should help to clear things up for you. Is that outcome guaranteed? No.

Medical interventions are based on the idea that the benefits which are possible outweigh the potential risks that you face. That is why a second opinion is often recommended when there is a serious diagnosis. Even if there is a consensus in a patient’s condition, there is an unpredictability to the way a person might respond to treatment. “You get surprises because diseases have their own personality, and every once in a while, a disease that’s usually bad behaves in a more indolent fashion,” Dr. David Steinberg, an oncologist at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, told NBC News.

6. Euthanasia would require a change to the legal and medical statutes in most countries. Although the United States, the Netherlands, and other countries which offer euthanasia at some level would require little in the way of legislation to permit this practice, it would require a complete overhaul of the criminal justice system in others. Even in the U.S., the judicial system has found that an individual does not have a Constitutional right to ask for a prescription that could end their life.

What we do know from the countries which allow euthanasia is that more people are requesting this service without having a terminal illness. Almost 5% of the individuals who die in the Netherlands each year do so because of euthanasia, with over 30% of the requests coming from individuals above the age of 80 without a significant health diagnosis.

7. Some doctors may purposely give out false information. We already know that 1 in 5 people can survive a terminal diagnosis based on length. The University of Chicago also found that doctors sometimes refuse to even offer an estimate if a patient asks them how long they have to live. 2 out of 5 physicians said that they would give an optimistic time that was up to three times longer than what they thought was possible. If we cannot be honest about patient information even with the presence of death with dignity laws, then isn’t it possible that some people could qualify for a program when the reality of their health was a very different story?

8. Most patients do not go through with the process of euthanasia. Only a small group of people decide that ending their life is the right decision to make. About 15% of people who are given a terminal diagnosis even bring up the idea of taking their life through a lethal prescription in the first place. The patients who then follow through with their doctor about this choice is about 2%. When you get to the individuals who actually take the pills so that they can use their local euthanasia laws, that figure drops to less than 1%.

Because there are so few people who take advantage of this option, it could be more beneficial to direct the resources dedicated to euthanasia into other forms of medical research. Although there isn’t a realistic cure for old age, we might come up with a way to stop cancer reliably, manage Alzheimer’s disease with consistency, and find solutions for genetic conditions that can reduce the quality of life for a person.

9. Euthanasia avoids the benefits of palliative care. Instead of trying to improve the life of a patient who has a terminal diagnosis, euthanasia seeks to take what remains of a person’s life away from them. People who specialize in palliative care can benefit from the new social, spiritual, and physical problems they face with their health. It is a benefit that people with a non-fatal diagnosis can use to their advantage as well. Giving up on the hope of life because of a challenging circumstance isn’t the right message for doctors to send to their patients. Suicide is an action that someone can take on their own in most instances if they are of sound mind and body, which means a doctor doesn’t need to be involved in many of these situations.

10. It can result in accidental life termination. In 2018, Dutch doctor Bert Keizer was asked to come to the home of a man dying from lung cancer. When he arrived, there were over 30 people gathered around the man’s bed, all drinking, crying and grieving – but it was boisterous. Then the patient told everyone to calm down, the children were taken from the room, and Keizer gave the man his shot that would end his life.

It’s not a slippery slope argument. The first prosecution for medical malpractice while administering euthanasia occurred in 2018. When the Dutch passed their laws in 2002, there wasn’t a stipulation in place for the patient to be competent at the time of medication administration. There are even instances where parents call in doctors to euthanize their mentally ill children.

Verdict on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Euthanasia

The idea that people should have a way to control their suffering is one that touches each family and individual in some way. No one wants to see someone needlessly suffer. Even though the result likely ends in death, it may be better to find physical peace than to have a few more months on this planet.

Every person’s situation is unique. Trying to force a moral equivalency on someone when those who are taking such an action have no idea about what it means to live in that situation is unacceptable. We should allow people to have an opportunity to end their life if that’s what they want to do.

The advantages and disadvantages of euthanasia must also look at the doctor’s, the patient’s family, and the other people involved with the decision. If someone is mentally fit and wishes to proceed in this manner instead of hoping for a miracle, then this option can help them to make it a reality.

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Euthanasia: Right to life vs right to die

Suresh bada math.

Department of Psychiatry National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Deemed University) Bangalore 560 029, India

Santosh K. Chaturvedi

The word euthanasia, originated in Greece means a good death 1 . Euthanasia encompasses various dimensions, from active (introducing something to cause death) to passive (withholding treatment or supportive measures); voluntary (consent) to involuntary (consent from guardian) and physician assisted (where physician's prescribe the medicine and patient or the third party administers the medication to cause death) 2 , 3 . Request for premature ending of life has contributed to the debate about the role of such practices in contemporary health care. This debate cuts across complex and dynamic aspects such as, legal, ethical, human rights, health, religious, economic, spiritual, social and cultural aspects of the civilised society. Here we argue this complex issue from both the supporters and opponents’ perspectives, and also attempts to present the plight of the sufferers and their caregivers. The objective is to discuss the subject of euthanasia from the medical and human rights perspective given the background of the recent Supreme Court judgement 3 in this context.

In India abetment of suicide and attempt to suicide are both criminal offences. In 1994, constitutional validity of Indian Penal Code Section (IPC Sec) 309 was challenged in the Supreme Court 4 . The Supreme Court declared that IPC Sec 309 is unconstitutional, under Article 21 (Right to Life) of the constitution in a landmark judgement 4 . In 1996, an interesting case of abetment of commission of suicide (IPC Sec 306) came to Supreme Court 5 . The accused were convicted in the trial court and later the conviction was upheld by the High Court. They appealed to the Supreme Court and contended that ‘right to die’ be included in Article 21 of the Constitution and any person abetting the commission of suicide by anyone is merely assisting in the enforcement of the fundamental right under Article 21; hence their punishment is violation of Article 21. This made the Supreme Court to rethink and to reconsider the decision of right to die. Immediately the matter was referred to a Constitution Bench of the Indian Supreme Court. The Court held that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution does not include the right to die 5 .

Regarding suicide, the Supreme Court reconsidered its decision on suicide. Abetment of suicide (IPC Sec 306) and attempt to suicide (IPC Sec 309) are two distinct offences, hence Section 306 can survive independent of Section 309. It has also clearly stated that a person attempts suicide in a depression, and hence he needs help, rather than punishment. Therefore, the Supreme Court has recommended to Parliament to consider the feasibility of deleting Section 309 from the Indian Penal Code 3 .

Arguments against euthanasia

Eliminating the invalid : Euthanasia opposers argue that if we embrace ‘the right to death with dignity’, people with incurable and debilitating illnesses will be disposed from our civilised society. The practice of palliative care counters this view, as palliative care would provide relief from distressing symptoms and pain, and support to the patient as well as the care giver. Palliative care is an active, compassionate and creative care for the dying 6 .

Constitution of India : ‘Right to life’ is a natural right embodied in Article 21 but suicide is an unnatural termination or extinction of life and, therefore, incompatible and inconsistent with the concept of ‘right to life’. It is the duty of the State to protect life and the physician's duty to provide care and not to harm patients. If euthanasia is legalised, then there is a grave apprehension that the State may refuse to invest in health (working towards Right to life). Legalised euthanasia has led to a severe decline in the quality of care for terminally-ill patients in Holland 7 . Hence, in a welfare state there should not be any role of euthanasia in any form.

Symptom of mental illness : Attempts to suicide or completed suicide are commonly seen in patients suffering from depression 8 , schizophrenia 9 and substance users 10 . It is also documented in patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder 11 . Hence, it is essential to assess the mental status of the individual seeking for euthanasia. In classical teaching, attempt to suicide is a psychiatric emergency and it is considered as a desperate call for help or assistance. Several guidelines have been formulated for management of suicidal patients in psychiatry 12 . Hence, attempted suicide is considered as a sign of mental illness 13 .

Malafide intention : In the era of declining morality and justice, there is a possibility of misusing euthanasia by family members or relatives for inheriting the property of the patient. The Supreme Court has also raised this issue in the recent judgement 3 . ‘Mercy killing’ should not lead to ‘killing mercy’ in the hands of the noble medical professionals. Hence, to keep control over the medical professionals, the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 discusses euthanasia briefly in Chapter 6, Section 6.7 and it is in accordance with the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994 14 . There is an urgent need to protect patients and also medical practitioners caring the terminally ill patients from unnecessary lawsuit. Law commission had submitted a report (no-196) to the government on this issue 15 .

Emphasis on care : Earlier majority of them died before they reached the hospital but now it is converse. Now sciences had advanced to the extent, life can be prolonged but not to that extent of bringing back the dead one. This phenomenon has raised a complex situation. Earlier diseases outcome was discussed in terms of ‘CURE’ but in the contemporary world of diseases such as cancer, Aids, diabetes, hypertension and mental illness are debated in terms best ‘CARE’, since cure is distant. The principle is to add life to years rather than years to life with a good quality palliative care. The intention is to provide care when cure is not possible by low cost methods. The expectation of society is, ‘cure’ from the health professionals, but the role of medical professionals is to provide ‘care’. Hence, euthanasia for no cure illness does not have a logical argument. Whenever, there is no cure, the society and medical professionals become frustrated and the fellow citizen take extreme measures such as suicide, euthanasia or substance use. In such situations, palliative and rehabilitative care comes to the rescue of the patient and the family. At times, doctors do suggest to the family members to have the patient discharged from the hospital wait for death to come, if the family or patient so desires. Various reasons are quoted for such decisions, such as poverty, non-availability of bed, futile intervention, resources can be utilised for other patients where cure is possible and unfortunately majority of our patient's family do accordingly. Many of the terminally ill patients prefer to die at home, with or without any proper terminal health care. The societal perception needs to be altered and also the medical professionals need to focus on care rather in addition to just cure. The motive for many euthanasia requests is unawareness of alternatives. Patients hear from their doctors that ‘nothing can be done anymore’. However, when patients hear that a lot can be done through palliative care, that the symptoms can be controlled, now and in the future, many do not want euthanasia anymore 16 .

Commercialisation of health care : Passive euthanasia occurs in majority of the hospitals across the county, where poor patients and their family members refuse or withdraw treatment because of the huge cost involved in keeping them alive. If euthanasia is legalised, then commercial health sector will serve death sentence to many disabled and elderly citizens of India for meagre amount of money. This has been highlighted in the Supreme Court Judgement 3 , 17 .

Research has revealed that many terminally ill patients requesting euthanasia, have major depression, and that the desire for death in terminal patients is correlated with the depression 18 . In Indian setting also, strong desire for death was reported by 3 of the 191 advanced cancer patients, and these had severe depression 19 . They need palliative and rehabilitative care. They want to be looked after by enthusiastic, compassionate and humanistic team of health professionals and the complete expenses need to be borne by the State so that ‘Right to life’ becomes a reality and succeeds before ‘Right to death with dignity’. Palliative care actually provides death with dignity and a death considered good by the patient and the care givers.

Counterargument of euthanasia supporters

Caregivers burden : ‘Right-to-die’ supporters argue that people who have an incurable, degenerative, disabling or debilitating condition should be allowed to die in dignity. This argument is further defended for those, who have chronic debilitating illness even though it is not terminal such as severe mental illness. Majority of such petitions are filed by the sufferers or family members or their caretakers. The caregiver's burden is huge and cuts across various domains such as financial, emotional, time, physical, mental and social. Hence, it is uncommon to hear requests from the family members of the person with psychiatric illness to give some poison either to patient or else to them. Coupled with the States inefficiency, apathy and no investment on health is mockery of the ‘Right to life’.

Refusing care : Right to refuse medical treatment is well recognised in law, including medical treatment that sustains or prolongs life. For example, a patient suffering from blood cancer can refuse treatment or deny feeds through nasogastric tube. Recognition of right to refuse treatment gives a way for passive euthanasia. Many do argue that allowing medical termination of pregnancy before 16 wk is also a form of active involuntary euthanasia. This issue of mercy killing of deformed babies has already been in discussion in Holland 20 .

Right to die : Many patients in a persistent vegetative state or else in chronic illness, do not want to be a burden on their family members. Euthanasia can be considered as a way to upheld the ‘Right to life’ by honouring ‘Right to die’ with dignity.

Encouraging the organ transplantation : Euthanasia in terminally ill patients provides an opportunity to advocate for organ donation. This in turn will help many patients with organ failure waiting for transplantation. Not only euthanasia gives ‘Right to die’ for the terminally ill, but also ‘Right to life’ for the organ needy patients.

Constitution of India reads ‘right to life’ is in positive direction of protecting life. Hence, there is an urgent need to fulfil this obligation of ‘Right to life’ by providing ‘food, safe drinking water and health care’. On the contrary, the state does not own the responsibility of promoting, protecting and fulfilling the socio-economic rights such as right to food, right to water, right to education and right to health care, which are basic essential ingredients of right to life. Till date, most of the States has not done anything to support the terminally ill people by providing for hospice care.

If the State takes the responsibility of providing reasonable degree of health care, then majority of the euthanasia supporters will definitely reconsider their argument. We do endorse the Supreme Court Judgement that our contemporary society and public health system is not matured enough to handle this sensitive issue, hence it needs to be withheld. However, this issue needs to be re-examined again after few years depending upon the evolution of the society with regard to providing health care to the disabled and public health sector with regard to providing health care to poor people.

The Supreme Court judgement to withhold decision on this sensitive issue is a first step towards a new era of health care in terminally ill patients. The Judgment laid down is to preserve harmony within a society, when faced with a complex medical, social and legal dilemma. There is a need to enact a legislation to protect terminally ill patients and also medical practitioners caring for them as per the recommendation of Law Commission Report-196 15 . There is also an urgent need to invest in our health care system, so that poor people suffering from ill health can access free health care. Investment in health care is not a charity; ‘Right to Health’ is bestowed under ‘Right to Life’ of our constitution.

Euthanasia - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Euthanasia, also known as assisted dying or mercy killing, remains a deeply contested ethical and legal issue. Essays could delve into the various forms of euthanasia, such as voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary euthanasia, discussing the moral and legal implications of each. The discourse might extend to the examination of the cultural, religious, and societal attitudes towards euthanasia, exploring how different societies and religious groups perceive the right to die. Discussions could also focus on the experiences of countries and regions that have legalized euthanasia, examining the impact on healthcare practices, legal frameworks, and societal attitudes. Moreover, the broader implications of euthanasia on medical ethics, patient autonomy, and the sanctity of life could be explored to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding euthanasia and the ongoing debates on its legalization and practice. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to Euthanasia you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Euthanasia: is it Ethical

While doing research on the topic of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide, I have come to see that people have a hard time believing that this should be an option for people who have terminal illnesses. Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma and Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) is The voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect […]

Arguments for and against Euthanasia

Euthanasia is also known as physician-assisted suicide or good death. It refers to the method where animals that are suffering or in discomfort are helped to rest in death. Many pet owners consider Euthanasia a more compassionate manner of bidding their beloved animals goodbye. In the case of people, many states have not legalized euthanasia for people with dementia or those suffering from incurable diseases. Euthanasia creates an ethical dilemma on three main lines: legal, medical, and philosophical. There are […]

Ethics Behind Physician-Assisted Suicide

Assisted suicide is the act of intentionally killing yourself with the assistance of someone else. In the United States, physician-assisted suicide is when a physician provides a patient, who meets the criteria of having a terminal illness, with medication in order to terminate their life to relieve pain and/or suffering. Physician-assisted suicide is often confused with euthanasia. Euthanasia is illegal in the US. It requires a doctor, or another individual, to administer the medication to the patient. Other terms for […]

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Why Euthanasia should be Legalised

Did you know that the word euthanasia comes from Greek which means good death? However, Only 9 out of the 196 countries in the world have legalised euthanasia or assisted death, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Japan. - posted on Deccan Chronicle. These are all first world countries that value freedom and I strongly believe that Euthanasia should be extended to all other countries. There are 4 different types of euthanasia voluntary, involuntary, active and passive euthanasia. First, I […]

The Ban on Euthanasia

Imagine your girl best friend gets into a car crash. After the incident, you find out she suffered major spinal cord damage and her legs will be paralyzed for the rest of her life. You go to visit her in the hospital the same week but arrive to shocking news. She tells you she has lost the will to live and wants to be euthanized, or painlessly killed. She tells you she is worried about how this accident will affect […]

Assisted Suicide the Rights we have

The right to assisted suicide is one of the most controversial topics ever discussed because of the fact that other people control your life when you are unable to. But some people think that they can stop you from dying even though death is inevitable when one is terminally ill. They think that because of religious and moral reasons they could stop someone from ending their own life. Assisted suicide also known as ""Euthanasia"" is used to make a painless […]

Economic Benefits of Euthanasia

Euthanasia is assisted suicide, it is an action taken by a doctor with consent of the patient in order to relieve immense pain and suffering. However, is the overall process of Euthanasia beneficial for the economy? Based on research, euthanasia is beneficial to the economy, and saves a vast amount of money for families for hospital stays, private insurance companies, taxpayers, and medicare each year. For a hospital stay, the average cost per inpatient day is $2,534.00 for a local […]

Euthanasia Debate

The intention to deliberately help someone accelerate the death of an incurable patient, even to stop his or her suffering has never been an easy task. The ethics of euthanasia is one that has been debated over since the fourth century B.C. Euthanasia is translated from Greek as "good death" or "easy death. At first, the term referred to painless and peaceful natural deaths in old age that occurred in comfortable and familiar surroundings. Today the word is currently understood […]

Physician-assisted Suicide: Right to Die

You may have heard of Physician-assisted suicide before, but what exactly is it? Physician-Assisted suicide is when someone who is terminally ill and completely competent of making choices the right to take their own life, legally with the help of a doctor. Though it seems as if they should be able to do that, in most states the law does get in the way of that. There are ethical and moral issues surrounding this issue. Regardless of those issues, those […]

Religious Perspectives on Euthanasia

Death is one of the most important things that religions deal with. All faiths offer meaning and explanations for death and dying; all faiths try to find a place for death and dying within human experience. Most religions disapprove of euthanasia. Some of them absolutely forbid it. Virtually all religions state that those who become vulnerable through illness or disability deserve special care and protection and that proper end of life care is a much better thing than euthanasia. Religions […]

Active and Passive Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the termination of a terminally ill person's life in order to relieve patients of their severe and untreatable pain. It is further broken down into two types: active and passive. In this paper, I will be focusing on active euthanasia and will argue that it is morally justifiable for a physician to alleviate agony for a patient and their family via direct action. Active euthanasia is morally permissible when a patient explicitly states their consent due to the […]

Physician Assisted Suicide: Medical Practice

Physician assisted suicide is when a physician provides a patient with the necessary means and information to help the patient perform a life ending act. Physician assisted suicide is when is when a person gets prescribed a lethal dose of medication from their physician that they can take when they get ready too. Physician assisted suicide has become an option for those around the world and even legal in certain States in the US. This option is legal in 6 […]

The Controversy over Euthanasia

Euthanasia, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. The growing euthanasia epidemic has raised a profusion of controversy in recent years due to the legal and moral implications. Although described as relatively painless,euthanasia is something that should be methodically and thoroughly thought through because of the permanent effect it […]

Euthanasia and Death Penalty

Euthanasia and death penalty are two controversy topics, that get a lot of attention in today's life. The subject itself has the roots deep in the beginning of the humankind. It is interesting and maybe useful to learn the answer and if there is right or wrong in those actions. The decision if a person should live or die depends on the state laws. There are both opponents and supporters of the subject. However different the opinions are, the state […]

Physician Assisted Suicide: the Growing Issue of Dying with Dignity and Euthanasia

Is someone wanting to die with dignity more important than the conscience of a doctor who provides care for others? The issue of physician-assisted death can be summed up by simply saying it has a snowball effect. What starts as physician-assisted death turns into euthanizing and from there it could end up in the killing of patients without their full comprehension as to what they agreed to. The solution to this issue is accepting there is a problem and figuring […]

Definition of Euthanasia

Euthanasia defined as an intentionally ending of the life of the terminally ill person in order to relieve pain or suffering, done by a physician, legally. This is not to be confused with the similar physician assisted suicide, the suicide of patient suffering from an incurable disease, effected by the taking of lethal drug by a doctor for this purpose. It is legal in only a few places of the world, and the laws vary by the places. That means […]

Physician Assisted Suicide

Healthcare isn't as perfect as we think it should be considering there are so many medications and treatments that can help restore or cure one's illness. When needing the assistance of a healthcare facility, there are many different challenges that can impact patients and their families. Challenges that include life or death decision making, insurance coverage, the need for medications, cost of services, and so on. As these challenges may seem as if they are minor to some, they truly […]

Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide

In a documentary, Charles Scott was a man who loved to read, sing, and enjoy being outdoors. He was diagnosed with lymphoma. Struggling every day just to breathe after walking 10 steps to the bathroom and dealing with his eyesight deteriorating, He found life to be full of pain instead of joy. He found no want in having to wait through multiple medications, operations, pain, hospice, and finally him dying suffocating trying to catch his breath” he wished to die […]

Physician-Assisted Euthanasia/Suicide

Part 1: Ethical Question Should doctors have a choice to opt out of assisting terminally ill patients with euthanasia/suicide? Part 2: Introduction Some people think being a physician is an exciting job for the most part. However, physicians have the task of making tough decisions that could hurt many people emotionally. The morality of assisted euthanasia and suicide has been questioned by many people. Some may consider euthanasia and suicide immoral any wrong. Unfortunately, euthanasia and suicide may be the […]

Arguments for Legalizing Euthanasia

I once heard euthanasia is a heart-wrenching kindness and i believe that to be true.Although we as vet techs know it is the right thing to do, being apart of ending there pain and suffering,it is hard being the one to end it knowing the bond an animal has with its owner.Everyone has their own thoughts about this topic and how we prefer to handle it.There are different tolerances everyone has on how it should be done and what the […]

Why Active Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide should be Legalized

This reference source gives us an overview of why euthanasia should be legalized. It goes into depth about how patients and doctors are affected by the decision to end a person's life, and moral issues, and whether it is right or wrong to purposely end someone's life. This source highlights that euthanasia should be in the best interest of the patient who is suffering from an illness, such as an incurable disease or a serious health issue. Doctors should be […]

Physician-assisted Suicide is not Federally Mandated

Physician-assisted suicide is not federally mandated due to the lack of bipartisanship in Congress, the principles of federalism, and contributions from conservative organizations and interest groups. The attitudes and moral acceptability about certain behaviors and actions differ significantly among Republicans and Democrats. According to a 2007 survey, 62% of Democrats support doctors assisting a terminally ill patient to commit suicide, while only 49% of Republicans support this notion (Gallup, Inc 2007). 59% of Democrats also find physician-assisted suicide to be […]

Physician-assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

Physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia have become some of the most highly controversial topics discussed in medicine, making those who have medicine as an occupation question the morality behind the act. A common misconception people often times make is confusing the fact that physician-assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia as the same thing. The NCI dictionary of cancer terms states euthanasia is accessibility to ""[a]n easy or painless death or the intentional ending of the life of a person suffering from […]

Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide

Sometimes people criticize euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide from what is called "pro-life" perspectives and other times from "pro-death" perspectives; each perspective has a different argument about their position and the side they are on in this debate. This paper will review some of these arguments that have been made to date, as well as some of the more recent developments in this issue (Dieterle 129). To begin with, many people argue that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are morally acceptable because […]

Hinduism and Buddhist Perspective of Suicide and Euthanasia

The principle of ahimsa, or no violence, is fervently held in Hinduism and is reflective in followers' everyday lives. This concept extends to oneself as well as others. For one, suicide is condemned in this religion because all life is considered sacred. Humans life is perceived as precious because only through one of the three human realms can liberation be achieved. Other living things, such as insects and animals, do not receive the same opportunity, so it is crucial followers […]

Euthanasia – One of the most Debated Topics Today

The topic of euthanasia is one of the most debated topics today. Elderly patients can be pressured into a decision they don't want to make. Citizens can also be unfairly euthanized as well. Euthanasia should stay illegal due to the obligation to elderly patients, non permitted euthanization, of an individual, and which can open hopefully widen perspective on this issue, as well as many others. Euthanasia is a complex topic that can't be described simply and without depth. Euthanasia can […]

Physician-assisted Suicide Debate

Let's say a patient is in incredible pain or has an incurable illness and the patient can only be kept alive by machines or by enduring their pain. Should any patient who is in these circumstances be allowed to choose death over this life? Many people go against assisted suicide because of religion and or whatever they believe in. Another reason why people may disagree is that the patients who are not in the right mind and or are too […]

Ethics and Challenges of Euthanasia

As there are other patients who have a higher chance of living, euthanizing the patient was the more practical option. Euthanasia advocates argue that futile care may harm others. For instance, a young child with an acute respiratory disease, who has a potentially higher chance of getting cured, could not get a bed and ventilator in the ICU because others were using it even though they are not getting any personal benefit from the treatment (Niederman & Berger, 2010). This […]

Euthanasia: Merciful Death or Playing God

A death by suicide. Just hearing the word suicide can send chills down one's spine. How could someone get to the point of self-termination? Why would anybody ever consider such a terrible way to die? The thing is, suicide does not have to be a terrible or scary way to die if one is faced with insurmountable troubles accompanying an untreatable disease. With assistance from licensed professionals, it can give those suffering a painless option if they so choose to […]

What is Euthanasia?

Euthanasia is a easy death, some may say euthanasia is a undeviating act for taking a life through prescription drugs. A patient that has a short expand of life can address such an issue with their healthcare provider. Counseling can be provided before the final decision is made by doctor and the patient. At anytime the patient reserves the right to with draw from the process. The patient however must have good reason for the process before a doctor will […]

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How To Write An Essay On Euthanasia

Introduction to the concept of euthanasia.

When embarking on an essay about euthanasia, it’s crucial to begin with a clear definition of what euthanasia entails. Euthanasia, often referred to as "mercy killing," is the act of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve them of suffering, typically from a terminal illness or an incurable condition. In your introduction, outline the various types of euthanasia, such as voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary, and the ethical, legal, and moral questions they raise. This introductory segment sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of the arguments for and against euthanasia and its implications in the realms of medicine, ethics, and law.

Exploring the Arguments For and Against Euthanasia

The body of your essay should delve into the complex arguments surrounding euthanasia. On one hand, proponents argue that euthanasia is a compassionate response to unbearable suffering, respecting an individual's right to choose death over prolonged pain. They may also cite the importance of dignity in death and the reduction of medical costs for terminally ill patients. On the other hand, opponents raise concerns about the sanctity of life, the potential for abuse, and the slippery slope towards non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia. They may also discuss the moral obligations of medical professionals to preserve life. This section should present a balanced view of the debate, providing a comprehensive understanding of the various perspectives on euthanasia.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

A crucial aspect of your essay should be an examination of the ethical and legal considerations surrounding euthanasia. Discuss the ethical principles involved, such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Explore how different countries and cultures view and legislate euthanasia, noting the variations in legal frameworks and the criteria required for it to be carried out. This analysis should provide insight into the complexities of legalizing and regulating euthanasia, and the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare providers, patients, and their families.

Concluding with Personal Reflections and Broader Implications

Conclude your essay by summarizing the key points and offering personal reflections on the topic. Reflect on the implications of euthanasia for society and the field of healthcare. Consider how advances in medical technology and changes in societal attitudes might influence the future of euthanasia. Your conclusion should not only provide closure to your essay but also encourage further thought and dialogue on this sensitive and contentious issue, highlighting the ongoing importance of ethical deliberation in decisions about life and death.

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Home / Essay Samples / Health / Euthanasia / Why Euthanasia Should Not Be Legal: Pros and Cons

Why Euthanasia Should Not Be Legal: Pros and Cons

• Category: Life , Health
• Topic: Ethical Dilemma , Euthanasia , Moral

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