Euthanasia

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorCollege, Undergraduate February 2008

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Euthanasia can be described broadly as, cutting short the life of one person but broken down into two sections, active and passive. Active euthanasia is sometimes called, doctor assisted suicide. This is when a person goes to the doctor asking for them to end their life, normally after being diagnosed or suffering from a terminal disease. When a person is comatose or being kept alive by feeding tubes and machines, and they die by turning the machines off, is passive euthanasia. Passive and active euthanasia should be legalized if it were to end a life of suffering and pain caused by disease or accident (The NSW Right to Life Association).

Euthanasia has become a matter of increasing attention due to the work of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Between the years 1990 and 1998, Kevorkian has assisted in over one hundred assisted suicides (The Kevorkian Verdict). Due to Dr. Kevorkian, Michigan Governor John Engler signed an anti-suicide law in February that made doctor-assisted suicides a felony.

The law went through a 21 month trial period. During this time anyone performing an assisted suicide could face up to a four year prison term and/or a $2000 fine (Bernard).

As with any issue, each opinion is backed by multiple reasons. One argument of those who oppose euthanasia is that it is unethical for medical professionals to always try everything in their power to preserve life. Another argument is that euthanasia will ultimately lead to the devaluation of life (Bernard). Essentially, people will think of life as less important and will tend to simply give up when faced with a tough situation. Also people think that legalizing euthanasia will force health care and family members to become judging of the value of life the person has had. Those against euthanasia also believe that euthanasia...