personal

Today there are thousands of terminally ill patients in long term care facilities across America. In care facilities there are a countless number of elderly people and terminally ill patients that have repeatedly expressed a desire to die. Should these people be allowed to die, or should they be forced to keep on living? This question has plagued ethicists and physicians for decades. Euthanasia is the act of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a painless way for reasons of mercy. Another term used for euthanasia is assisted suicide. Euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide, is one of the most controversial issues we face today. Like many other touchy topics, euthanasia cannot simply be looked upon as either “right” or “wrong.” Supporters of euthanasia feel that ending a person’s life can be justifiable if the person is in severe pain and sincerely wants to die. Opponents, on the other hand, contend that killing and suicide are always wrong and can never be justified even if it was for reasons of mercy.
Under current U.S. law, there are two types of euthanasia labeled as either "active" or "passive", and as either "voluntary" or "involuntary.” Passive euthanasia is much more openly accepted and practiced. “The traditional distinction between active and passive euthanasia requires critical analysis. The conventional doctrine is that there is such an important moral difference between the two that, although the latter is sometimes perm...

personal

Login

Join