Legalization Of Euthanasia

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate November 2001

download word file, 2 pages 3.0

Downloaded 32 times

Legalization of Euthanasia One of the most controversial issues of this decade is euthanasia. Euthanasia is "inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful"�.

( Fletcher 39). It can be traced as far back as the Greek and Roman civilizations. It was sometimes allowed that in these civilizations to help others die a less painful death. There are many different factors that make euthanasia logical. Euthanasia should become legal in the United States because of high medical costs, the right to choose, and to relieve unnecessary pain and suffering.

High medical costs are a big problem for many. A very large percentage of money spent in one's life for medical care is spent in one's last year trying to prolong life. The medical costs are astronomical and the patient is no longer able to work. This causes a great financial and emotional strain for the patient's family.

Insurance coverage is limited. Many terminally ill patients have already reached the maximum limit of their insurance policy prior to the last few months of their life. This leaves the patient's family with bills to pay for years after the patient's death. The illness and death of a loved one is tragic enough for the family without the burden of bills that they are unable to pay.

The right to choose is also a big issue of euthanasia. Suicide is a legal option available to all healthy individuals. It also should be legal to all unhealthy individuals. Some of these terminally ill patients wish to die, but have no energy or the means to do so. The Fourteenth amendment states that, " no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property"�. Making euthanasia illegal deprives a disabled or terminally person of their choice of death. The...