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DEFINATION OF EUTANASIA:
Euthanasia is defined as the practice of ending a life prematurely in order to end pain and
suffering. The process is also sometimes called Mercy Killing. Euthanasia can fall into
several categories. Voluntary Euthanasia is carried out with the permission of the person
whose life is taken. Involuntary euthanasia is carried out without permission, such as in the
case of a criminal execution. Voluntary euthanasia is typically performed when a person is
suffering from a terminal illness and is in great pain. When the patient performs this
procedure with the help of a doctor, the term assisted suicide is often used. This practice is
legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg. Passive euthanasia is carried out by
terminating a medication that is keeping a patient alive or not performing a life-saving
procedure. Active euthanasia involves the administration of a lethal drug or otherwise
actively ending the life.
EUTHANASIA AND RELIGION:
Muslims are against euthanasia. They believe that all humans life is sacred because it is given
by Allah, and that Allah chooses how long each person lives. Human beings should not
interfere in this. It is forbidden for a Muslim to plan, or come to know through self-will, the
time of his own death in advance.
Many arguments also hinge on religious beliefs. Many Christians believe that taking a life,
for any reason, is interfering with God's plan and is comparable to murder. The most
conservative of Christians are against even passive euthanasia. Some religious people do take
the other side of the argument and believe that the drugs to end suffering early are God-given
and should be used.
WHY EUTHANASIA SHOULDNOT BE LEGAL:
1. EUTHANASIAIS MURDER:
Murder is the act of intentionally taking the life of one person. Opponents of euthanasia,
especially Catholics, believe that the practice is wrong because it is murder. Since God is the
One who created us, He is also the only One who has the right to take our lives away. In fact,
the sixth of the Ten Commandments states “Thou shall not kill.” Therefore, any form of
killing – regardless of motives – is not permissible.
2. EUTHANASIAGIVES TOMUCH POWER TO DOCTORS:
Doctors are empowered by euthanasia. It gives them the opportunity to play God and most
doctors, since many now more regard their profession as an occupation and not a passion,
will grab this opportunity. This is especially true for those dishonest individuals. Many of us
are unaware that a lot of doctors today are taking self-interested shortcuts in order to earn
more or make things happen their way.
A perfect example of this would be Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a controversial pathologist, who took
advantage of his patients’ agony and murdered them. According to reports, his goals were to
popularize assisted suicide, to harvest organs for transplantation, and the most appalling of
all, to experiment the sick and injured patients. Kevorkian claimed that he had helped 130
ailing people end their lives. Imagine? But what’s worse about it was that he created a
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machine for suicide, which was called a “suicide machine,” that allowed sick people dispense
a lethal dose of medication to themselves by pressing a button. Later, the lunatic was
convicted for second-degree murder, but unfortunately, he was not the only one who
practiced this. In Netherlands, where euthanasia is allowed, thousands of people are killed
each year “without request or consent.”
EUTHANASIADESTROYSPATIENT TRUST IN MEDICAL
PROFESSION:
What if you have an illness, and you found out that the doctor you trust your life to actually
practice euthanasia? Would you still visit him and follow his recommendations? If you will
ask me… no.
When I go to the hospital or clinic, I want to make sure that my doctor will do everything that
he or she can to keep me alive. I do not want to go to someone who thinks that maybe I
would prefer to give up life. Doctors went through extensive training in order to ensure that
they can provide safe and high quality healthcare to their patients. They even took an OATH
to treat their patients in the best of their ability. Their job is to take the pain out of their
patients, and not to put their patients out of existence.
Indeed, euthanasia or assisted suicide destroys trust between the patient and the physician.
EUTHANASIAUNDERMINES MEDICAL RESEARCH:
I understand why some people desire to kill themselves. The pain is, sometimes, just too
much to the point that it is no longer bearable – that you would rather die than to feel it over
and over again. But one thing that many people, especially those who support euthanasia,
should realize is that there is a cure to illnesses – no matter how worst they are. Even if some
of them are not yet discovered, in time, they will become available. Just think about this:
Years ago, we didn’t have medicines, such as pain relievers and antibiotics; we also didn’t
have instruments and machines to treat patients. But because of advanced research and great
desire of our people to prolong life, we were able to discover them. And now, millions of sick
people are getting benefits from them – many are even being saved because of them.
LEGALIZATION OF EUTHANASIA MEANSLIFEIN NOT WORTH
LIVING:
Euthanasia is killing and destroying a life. Accepting what life has brought to us, as well as
fighting to the end, no matter how hard or painful the battle is, and waiting for death to come
naturally is how you truly die with dignity. Legalizing euthanasia and convincing people that
they should kill themselves to end their suffering is like saying that their lives are no longer
worthy to be saved – that “it is better for them to be dead than to live.”
Life is beautiful. If we can only convince those “hopeless patients” that there are so many
reasons to live for, they will no longer consider euthanasia.
LEGALIZATION OF EUTHANASIA CHANGES PUBLIC CONSCIENCE:
The law is a powerful tool that can be used to change our beliefs, behavior, and conscience.
When a practice becomes legal and widely accepted, it becomes right in the eyes of the
society. Even if it is against our personal preference and principle, we eventually practice it
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and believe that it is perfectly okay. People trust the law because they believe that it is the
best for the people – they believe that the law is always right.
LEGALIZATION OF EUTHANASIA LEADS TOMORE and MORE
KILLINGS:
Opponents of euthanasia argue that legalizing euthanasia would lead society down a
dangerous “slippery slope.” Once euthanasia is legally permitted, people will start to agree
that suicide is the legitimate solution to life’s problems. Instead of being just an option for
those who are suffering from chronic illnesses, it would eventually become part of the social
norm with killing being permitted for everyone, even for children, elderly, depressed, and
even for those who do not and cannot make such a request to die.
EUTHANASIA ENCOURAGES VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO END THEIR
LIVES.
If euthanasia is available, sick and dependent people will be pressured to choose death, rather
than suffer and become a burden to their families. Yes, people who are dependent and ill
often feel worthless and burden to their families. Since their body is so weak to work, they
are not able to help and contribute to their families and communities. This makes them often
feel worthless and useless. And this is the very reason why so many suffering people wish to
die. But luckily, euthanasia is not yet permitted in most parts of the country and other parts of
the world. But if it’s already available, no one can already stop these people from requesting
assisted death. Patients and people with disabilities and problems will think that euthanasia is
the only solution.
PEOPLE WHO REQUEST MERCY KILLING DON’T WANNA DIE:
The practice of euthanasia is an unwise and wrong choice. Sure, having an illness and being
born with disability is tragic, but killing them is not the answer to their problem. What these
people need is love and support from their friends, doctors, especially from their families. If
these people will only see that we are caring for them and valuing their lives, they will be
encouraged to continue life, no matter how painful it will get.
MANY ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE INSTEAD OF EUTHANASIA:
Dr. Richard Lamberton said, “Once a patient feels welcome, and not a burden to others; once
his pain is controlled and other symptoms have been at least reduced to manageable
proportions, then the cry for euthanasia disappears. It is not that the question of euthanasia is
right or wrong, desirable or 76 repugnant, practical or unworkable. It is just that it is
irrelevant.”
In addition, suffering people don’t really want to be euthanized. Although it can give them
their desired peaceful death, they still don’t really like the idea of going through it.
Sometimes, their decision-making is just influenced by their physicians. In a 2001 interview
with Dr. Joke Groen-Evers, a Dutch physician and former supporter of euthanasia, she
admitted that before, she always brought up the subject of euthanasia when talking with her
terminal patients. And according to her, 9 times out of 10, her patients would request for it.
But when she changed her mind and started to promote good palliative care, she never used
the E-word anymore. And the result is no one asks for it anymore! She said that, “…If you
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mention euthanasia, they will ask for it. If you mention palliative care, then that is what they
will choose.”