reference

Voluntary Euthanasia Society. (2011). voluntary euthanasia. Retrieved from http://www.ves.org.nz/

Cordeaux, J. (2001). types of euthanasia. Retrieved from http://www.world-faiths.com/gcse%20short%20course/types_of_euthanasia.htm

DPF (2012). euthanasia debate. Retrieved from http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2012/05/the_euthanasia_debate-2.html

com, E. (n.d.). Euthanaia Facts. Retrieved from http://www.euthanasia.com/page4.html

NZherald (2012). Euthanasia News. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/euthanasia/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=192

Conclusion

 In conclusion, people who oppose euthanasia should be more open minded to the real situation. The negative attitude towards euthanasia in the mid 1600's where religion argued with no credible evidence should not be taken into account. Euthanasia is not about taking away the hope for the patient to heal, nor making a person suicide. It is a happiest way to say good bye for the patient to rest in peace and for the family to carry on with their lives without painful memories.

Terminally ill patients and the people around them

Euthanasia is not only in desperate need for the terminally ill patients but also for their family. It cannot be said that the cost and time the family spends to keep the patients to be alive is worthless, but in some cases it is considered an obstruction for the future of the remaining family after the patient passes away. Not only will they despair for the loss of their loved ones, but they might also be put in a situation where they might have difficulties meeting ends meet.

The cost of taking care of the terminally ill patient is enormous for both the hospital and the family. The willpower of the family members to keep the patient alive with only a desparate but tiny hope for cure, grabbing on to a very low possibility, which in fact can be considered as a miracle often seen in the media, is honorable. But to be realistic, most of the family members will experience great despair and financial droughtness. The family members are forced to go through and endure an overwhelming emotional and psychological suffering for an undefined period of time, seeing their beloved ones in pain and facing economic difficulties at the same time, longing for a unpromised reward of recovery. This situation is also uncomfortable for the patient because they feel guilty and vulnerable about the family spending a large amount of their earnings towards him/her, which leads to mental stress affecting their recovery.

Moreover, the time spent on caring terminally ill patients is a tough task. When someone is near death, most of the patients hope to die at their home. The problem with this is, the family members have to search for a paid carer or a volunteer. The family who are not in good financial condition have to either look after the terminally ill patient by themselves, or find a volunteer but the number of volunteers are very few that it is difficult to approach. Both ways will result in a considerable amount of property loss either due to reduction in income due to less working time or the payment of caregivers. 

Euthanasia and human rights

There are many discussions on the legalization of euthanasia. But focusing on what New Zealanders think of euthanaisa, they have a positive view towards terminally ill patient in great pain or distress to be allowed medication to end their life.

Unfortunately, two attempts at passing legislation on legalized euthanasia failed to get through Parliament. The main reason was that individuals do not have the right to take their own life and it would be considered as suicide, a death without dignity. However, the matter with euthanasia should not be recognized as a type of suicide, but as a part of medical decision or a prescription.


There is a type of hospital that is called hospice which takes care of terminally ill patients until they have a natural death. But even the hospice cannot make them free from pain and also there are not many vacancies to accommodate them. This leaves me with the question; is natural death the most desirable death in all circumstances? No one can insist that terminally ill patients had lived a wonderful life after seeing their faces grimacing in pain until the moment they die naturally. Furthermore, it is a contradiction for the people in good health to argue in front of terminally ill patients, “he or she can endure the pain” or “Suffering is better than dying anyway”.

The patients who are terminally ill are suffering great pain every day, every moment. If they have no other choice but to wait for the final day to come, why not give them a choice? Wouldn’t it be an agony for them to prolong their lives relying on devices such as a respirator or life support systems? It must be said that taking away the rights of terminally ill patients who choose to die without pain because of some obvious reasons like ‘life is precious’ or ‘death with dignity’ is a wrong conception. Therefore, euthanasia provides the minimum right for those patients to have a peaceful death.  

Types of Euthanasia

 Euthanasia can be catagorized as voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary. Also passive and active euthanaisa is named depending on the way the procedure is conducted.

Voluntary Euthanasia is a term used in the situation where the patient has agreed to the practice of euthanasia, which means that euthanasia is conducted with the consent of the patient.

Non-voluntary Euthanasia is where the consent of the patient is unavailable. It is mostly illegal worldwide but is discriminalised in certain countries under special circumstances.

Involuntary euthanasia is when euthanasia is conducted against the will of the patient.

Passive euthanasia is done by withholding common treatments which are necessary for the continuance of life.

Active euthanasia is a term which entails the use of lethal substances or forces to kill and is the most controversial means.

When a random person think about euthanasia they mostly refer to the active euthanasia category. But there are many categories of euthanasia to consider for legalization.

enthanasia

Euthanasia, from the greek meaning 'good death', is one of the most controversial issues of our time.  There are three categories in euthansia, but the idea is to lead terminally ill patients who are on the verge of death to be free from all the pain and pass away peacefully. However, putting these good intentions aside, there are many reasons for euthanasia to be considered as murder and this is why euthanasia is illegal in many country including New Zealand. in this article, i will argue for the legalisation of euthanasia.