Ethical and Social Aspects of Euthanasia

Paper Summary:

Euthanasia is the deliberate ending of life or the hastening of death of the patient. Over the last few years Euthanasia has become a much-debated topic, not only in the medical circles but also in the legal and the social domains. The paper shows that when looking into the topic of mercy killing we find that it is the ?fear factor? which underlies both sides of euthanasia debate. While from the patients perspective it is the fear of unbearable pain that cannot be assuaged, the embarrassment of dependence and the feeling of worthlessness and loss of self love. From the other angle we have a fear of doctors and the possibility of the abuse of the power. This paper analyzes the issue from ethical, social and medical perspectives and ultimately argues against the legalization of euthanasia.

From the Paper:

"Euthanasia seems to be the only solution for the patient to escape from the clutches of unbearable and medically interminable illness and pain. For old people who are suffering miserably in the last stages of their life without any sort of control over their agonizing condition, it indeed seems rightful to assist them to rest peacefully once and for all by Euthanasia. The Pro Euthanasia groups argue that unless we are only considered with prolonging life without any consideration for the quality of the life and the costs that might be incurred we have to start thinking about the decisions that affect the end of life. In other words when the quality and the length of prolonged life do not go together we have to make some kind of a practical decision. The argument is that there is no point in simply sustaining a terminally ill patient and increasing his suffering without any hope of recovery. The justification for Euthanasia lies in the fact that the either the ?burden of the treatment' or the distress and the disability of the prolonged life do not merit the sustenance of the patient. Euthanasia is best advised in severe and chronic cases where condition seems to deteriorate day by day and the patient expresses a sincere wish to end the unbearable agony."

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