Mercy Killing

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that voluntary active euthanasia means a deliberate intervention, by someone other than the person whose life is at stake, directly intended to end that life. The paper relates that the Dutch Parliament in 2000 passed a statue that formally legalized euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands. The paper predicts the gradual extension of assisted suicide to widening groups of patients and maintains that the Dutch are travelling down a slippery slope. The paper concludes that following the Dutch view of euthanasia is a dangerous and alarming path, for human life must be honored and respected to the last natural breath.

From the Paper:

"Apparently the Dutch medical experts consider euthanasia as a form of healing that has become an integral part of palliative care (Hendin). As the Dutch Minister of Health expressed, the physician who grants the patient's request for euthanasia "acts as the healer par excellence" (Hendin). It is little wonder that so many Dutch physicians feel comfortable suggesting euthanasia to their patients, for it is viewed as merely another option for patients, and "failure to suggest it could be considered malpractice" (Hendin)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fenigsen, Richard. (1989 January 01). A case against Dutch euthanasia. The Hastings Center Report. Retrieved February 18 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Fenigsen1, Richard. (2004 June 22). Dutch euthanasia: the new government ordered study. Issues in Law & Medicine. Retrieved February 18 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Gula, Richard M. (1999 May 5). Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide: Killing or Caring? The Christian Century. Retrieved February 18 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Hendin, Herbert. (2002 March 22). The Dutch experience.Issues in Law & Medicine. Retrieved February 18 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.
• Larson, Edward J. (2004 May 01). Euthanasia in America - past, present, and future: a review of a Merciful End and Forced Exit. Michigan Law Review. Retrieved February 18 2006 from HighBeam Research Library Web site.

More papers on Mercy Killing:

• Essay # 137425 : "Religion and Gendered Violence: The Troubling Epidemic of Mercy Killing and What Can Be Done about It"
• Term Paper # 66955 : "Mercy Killing or Murder?"
• Argumentative Essay # 63563 : "Opposition to Euthanasia"

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