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.
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.
Hi Tae, Wow! Interesting topic! I agree euthanisation should be legal but it also depends on context. For example, I believe that it should only be the patients choice or if they are unable to make that choice maybe the closest family members and only in terminally ill patients. Otherwise there would be people who would abuse this, say if they didn't really like that family member or if they wanted the insurance etc, or there would be people/patients who might use it as a way of suicide. Then it just becomes hard to define what circumstances euthanasia should be made an option...?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, made for a good read :)
Hi Tae,
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting topic ! Yes, agree and disgree of euthanisation is quite controversial, but as Janine said for the patients who suffer from death might be better to think of Euthanisation... so they can rest in peace...
Anyway it was interesting!!
Hi Tae, your topic is really rare and it took long time for me to understand it. I do not have much knowledge about this, but i really tried to get what you wrote. But the structure of your arguement has been arranged good, follow a basic order of formal essay.
ReplyDelete