Right to Die: Euthanasia

Euthanasia is a medical term that is used to refer to the practice of ending the life of a particular individual in the bid to relieve the individual from unbearable pain or an incurable disease. The term euthanasia is derived from a Greek word that stands for good death. Initially, the medial term used to denote euthanasia was intentional killing. Most of the instances of euthanasia are conducted by doctors on patients who are terminally ill. It is imperative to comprehend that although euthanasia is practiced by doctors all over the world, it is only conducted in special circumstances since it is legal in some countries and illegal in others. It should also be noted that the issue of euthanasia is controversial worldwide due to its conflicting moral issues and feelings between different cultures. Due to the sensitivity of euthanasia, I believe that the practice should be illegal and should not be practiced. This is because the practice devalues human lives as it continues to be involuntary. Moreover, doctors are trained to be individuals who are in a position to cure and not kill.

Due to the nature of euthanasia, I believe that the topic will continue to illicit debates as it continues to become an ethical dilemma, especially to the medical healthcare providers. To the general public, the believe that it is the obligation of healthcare providers to save lives continues to grow. It is the obligation of the healthcare providers to ensure that they save the lives of individuals regardless of their health status. The key problem arises when the individuals who have been charged with providing health care are involved in the practices of euthanasia since it is a betrayal of their oath of doing no harm. Instances that a health care provider is involved in euthanasia, then there is a chance that they have violated the policy. Moreover, the right of a patient to die in any instance is under their own autonomy. The key question that should be tackled in this instance is whether the patients should be allowed to die or not. The issue of assisting the patients to die should not be tolerated and condoned. It is the responsibility of the doctors and the nurses to ensure that they save the lives of their patients and not end them. From a different perspective, healthcare professionals do not have the right to choose whether a certain patient dies or lives. In fact, as long as the patients still live, there is a chance that they can still be cured.

The other argument against euthanasia is that there are various other treatments that are available. Such treatments include hospices and palliative cares. It is evident that there is no need to kill patients as there are other alternatives that can be explored. Moreover, there is no right to kill a particular individual. This notion can lead to a slippery slope. By opening doors to voluntary euthanasia, there could be instances where patients are forced into involuntary euthanasia. A good instance is what happened in the Netherlands in 1990. Approximately 1000 patients were killed in Netherlands, and this was done without their request. If this trend is not closely monitored, then it may reach levels where it is difficult to control. This, however, poses a challenge in that if the patients are given the assumption that they should make a choice on whether they live or die, then they will impose on the healthcare professionals a duty to kill. This stance would thus restrict the autonomy of the doctor.

It is however not all smooth sailing on opposing the use of euthanasia. There are supporters of euthanasia who argue that the process is needed. Often than not, they tend to note the compassion argument whereby they argue that it is better to allow some patients to die with dignity rather than dying while suffering in pain. Moreover, some patients believe that they have the autonomy to choose whether they live or die. Although this is true to some extent, some of the patients are not in the position to make such decisions thereby may make errors in judgment. To support this stance, most of the proponents argue that they are in a position to control the possible effects of euthanasia going out of control. They note that the use of mercy killings can be self-regulated by the government.

In conclusion, it is imperative to comprehend that euthanasia is only conducted in special circumstances since it is legal in some countries and illegal in others. It is the obligation of the healthcare providers to ensure that they save the lives of individuals regardless of their health status. The key problem arises when the individuals who have been charged with providing health care are involved in the practices of euthanasia since it is a betrayal of their oath of doing no harm. It is however not all smooth sailing on opposing the use of euthanasia. There are supporters of euthanasia who argue that the process is needed.