Euthanasia

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the contentious issue of modern medical ethics - euthanasia. It describes the "right to die" argument from three related perspectives: the rights-based perspective, the ethical perspective and the practical perspective. The paper discusses the logic behind each of these perspectives. It also explains why, according to these views, the law should protect euthanasia as a fundamental civil right.

From the Paper:

"Therefore, the law should protect euthanasia as a fundamental civil right. Decriminalizing physician-assisted suicide does not mean that doctors must agree to euthanasia but rather, that patients have the right to choose doctors who are willing to ease their suffering. Any individual who opposes euthanasia should by all means refuse to take part in it. Individuals who suffer from terminal illnesses and individuals who are in extremely compromised medical situations should be able to choose euthanasia as a civil and legal right. Health care practitioners have an ethical duty to honor the wishes of their patients and to heal their patients in body, mind, and soul. Moreover, doctors and health care practitioners should become more educated about situations that might warrant mercy killing. If euthanasia remains a taboo subject, no health care practitioner has the opportunity to make the professional decisions that are judicious and humane. Family members also have a moral duty to respect the wishes of their loved ones. End-of-life decisions are a deeply personal and even though a mother or a son might not agree, they still have the ethical obligation to honor a wish to terminate a painful or traumatic life. Ultimately, euthanasia is a personal choice that deserves protection under the law so that, like abortion, it can be practiced safely and under the care of a licensed physician."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Euthanasia: An Overview." BBC News. 12 May, 1999. Retrieved Feb 4, 2007 from < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/background_briefings/euthanasia/331255.stm>

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