The Act Of Euthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide

The Act of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide The argument can be made that euthanasia is a form of murder; which killing any human by murder is not ethical, but this can be combated. What about an individual’s autonomy? What about an individual who is terminally ill and who wishes to die the way that they want to die; a peaceful death surrounded by their loved ones in their home without pain and suffering. It is only ethical to respect their autonomy and morally permissible to then allow euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. Euthanasia is an important topic for discussion in today’s society for many reasons. One reason as to why this topic is so important is that it affects the ethical as well as the legal issues pertaining to not only the patients but the health care providers as well. Euthanasia, also known as physician assisted suicide, is also an important topic of discussion because it falls under many different categories which it can be argued for and against. Euthanasia is considered an emotional, as well as a practical debate. Euthanasia comes from the Greek words Eu (well) and Thanatos (death): put together meaning a gentle death. Today, there are many different types of euthanasia. There is the act of passive or active euthanasia. There are also the acts of involuntary, voluntary, and non-voluntary euthanasia. Types of Euthanasia Passive euthanasia is defined as â€Å"the physician’s abiding by the rational valid refusal of life-sustaining treatment ofShow MoreRelatedPhysician Assisted Suicide Is Not Considered Admissible949 Words   |  4 PagesPhysician assisted suicide- the voluntary termination of one’s own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician, and euthanasia, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable, painful disease are both highly emotional and contentious subjects. Some argue physician assisted suicide (P.A.S.) is admissible for someone who is dying and trying to painlessly break free from the intolerable suffering at the end of their life, and someRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1536 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing Murder â€Å"Euthanasia, also [known as] mercy killing, [is the] practice of ending another’s life with the aim of enabling the person to avoid severe suffering, typically from a terminal illness† (â€Å"Euthanasia†). Furthermore, a study conducted in Washington State revealed that most of the participants who requested euthanasia had the diagnosis of cancer, neurological disease, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Back et al. 919). This study also uncovered that â€Å"the patient concerns mostRead MoreEthical and Legal Debates on Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Essay1503 Words   |  7 Pagesregarding the debatable subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide, have been questioned frequently by society. Though the question may never be answered between euthanasia and assisted suicide being right or wrong, the fact of the matter is that people are still choosing their fate. In America, euthanasia refers to a person knowingly, and purposely taking another persons life, or in a more factual meaning killing someone who in fact couldn’t kill himself. Euthanasia also known as â€Å"mercy killing† isRead MoreThe Ethical Dilemmas Of Euthanasia Essay1638 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ethical Dilemmas of Euthanasia in Canada with the Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide This systematic analysis of the professional literature will explore the ethical dilemmas that Canadian medical professionals face while considering euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, the latter of which was made legal in Canada on June 17, 2016 (Chochinov and Frazee, 2016). This paper will discusses the conflicts that healthcare professionals are faced with when looking at the quality of lifeRead MoreEuthanasia Is A Medical Act Of A Physician Or Any Other Person?1016 Words   |  5 PagesEuthanasia is defined as the act of a physician or any other person intentionally killing a person by the administration of drugs, at that person’s voluntary and competent request. It is a ‘mercy killing’ which means to take a deliberate action aimed at ending a life to relieve intractable suffering or persisted pain. (Emanuel et al) Euthanasia could also be interpreted as the practice of ending a life painlessly. Euthanasia is technical description of the act regarding the process that is usuallyRead MoreThe Great Debate On Doctor Assisted Suicide Essay1239 Words   |  5 PagesDebate on Doctor Assisted Suicide Euthanasia, in today’s world, is a word with opposing meanings. Originally, it meant â€Å"a good death† (Leming Dickinson, 2016). Since the legalization of euthanasia around the world in the early 1990’s, the meaning has changed. Several pro-euthanasia sites would call it a humane and peaceful way to end the dying process, by either stopping the course of treatment or the use of lethal doses of medications (Leming Dickinson, 2016). Con-euthanasia activists are mostRead More Euthanasia Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pages When a person commits an act of euthanasia, he/she brings about the death of another person because he/she believes that the latter’s present existence is so bad that he/she would be better off dead. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu means â€Å"good† and thanatos means â€Å"death†. The meaning of euthanasia is â€Å"the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies† (Religious Tolerance). However, euthanasia has many different meanings,Read MoreEuthanasi The Issue Of Euthanasia1675 Words   |  7 PagesThe question of euthanasia, also referred to as mercy killing, is among the most disputable topic on ethics in America. It refers to the intentional putting to death of a person with an incurable or painful disease intended as an act of mercy (Newhealthguide.org, 2016). Euthanasia is closely related to doctor assisted suicide. However, the two acts differ in that, euthanasia means inject ing a terminally sick patient with lethal dose of a drug or withdrawing feeding tubes to let the patient die ofRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia Essay1039 Words   |  5 PagesPhysician Assisted Suicide Is physician assisted suicide ethical? Physician assisted suicide is an up and coming ethical question that examines a person’s right to their own death. Many people support physician assisted suicide, citing that it can save a lot of pain and suffering. Others claim that the concept of physician assisted suicide is a slippery slope. A slippery slope in the sense that if society accepts euthanasia as a rightful death for the terminally ill, they will potentially acceptRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide During The United States And Other Countries Essay1645 Words   |  7 PagesNovember 2016 Physician Assisted Suicide and Assisted Suicide in the United States and Other Countries Suicide. A term many of us are uncomfortable with, it is a tender subject especially for those who have been affected by it personally. What about the term physician assisted suicide (PAS) or assisted suicide? Around the world and more recently in the United States we have seen these terms in the news more often. Various forms of medically assisted dying and/or assisted suicide for the terminally