Reflection About Euthanasia

Moral Issue about Euthanasia Reflection

Euthanasia is defined as the practice of ending a life prematurely in order to end pain and suffering. The process is also sometimes called Mercy Killing. Euthanasia can fall into several categories. Voluntary Euthanasia is carried out with the permission of the person whose life is taken. Involuntary euthanasia is carried out without permission, such as in the case of a criminal execution. The moral and social uestions surrounding these practices are the most active fields of research in !ioethics today. Many "upreme #ourt cases, such as $on%ales v. ®on and !axter vs. Montana, also surround this issue. Voluntary euthanasia is typically performed when a person is suffering from a terminal illness and is in great pain. 'hen the patient performs this procedure with the help of a doctor, the term assisted suicide is often used. It is also legal in the state of ®on, 'ashington and Montana. (assive euthanasia is carried out )y terminating a medication that is keeping a patient alive or not performing a life*saving procedure. +ctive euthanasia involves the administration of  a lethal drug or otherwise actively ending the life. These two types of procedures carry different moral and social issues.  Euthanasia Controversy

My opinion or point of view a)out euthanasia,There is a lot of controversy surrounding the issue and whether or not it should )e legal. rom a legal standpoint, the Encyclopedia of  +merican -aw categori%es mercy killing as a class of criminal homicide. udicially, not all homicide is illegal. Killing is seen as excusa)le when used as a criminal punishment, )ut inexcusa)le when carried out for any other reason. In most nations, euthanasia is considered criminal homicide/ however, in the 0urisdictions mentioned a)ove, it is placed on the other side of the ta)le with criminal punishment. +rguments regarding the euthanasia de)ate often depend on the method used to take the life of the patient. The ®on 1eath with 1ignity +ct made it legal for residents to reuest a lethal in0ection from a doctor. This is seen in other 0urisdictions as )eing a criminal form of  homicide. 2owever, passive euthanasia through denial of drugs or procedures is considered to )e legal in almost all 0urisdictions. Those who argue for euthanasia feel that there is no difference. Those who are against it disagree.  Euthanasia and Religion

Many arguments also hinge on religious )eliefs. Many #hristians )elieve that taking a life, for any reason, is interfering with $od3s plan and is compara)le to murder. The most conservative of #hristians are against even passive euthanasia. "ome religious people do take the

other side of the argument and )elieve that the drugs to end suffering early are $od*given and should )e used. &ne of the main groups of people who are involved with the euthanasia de)ate is  physicians. &ne survey in the 4nited "tates recorded the opinions of over 56,666 medical doctors and found that sixteen percent would consider stopping a life*maintaining therapy at the recommendation of family or the patient. ifty five percent would never do such. The study also found that 78 percent of doctors )elieve that physician assisted suicide should )e allowed in some cases. The controversy surrounding euthanasia involves many aspects of religion, medical and social sciences. +s this is one of the most studied fields of )ioethics, one can rest assured that more studies will )e performed to learn more a)out this issue and how to )est address it.