Euthanasia is a widely debated topic. With many people having definite views for and against euthanasia in it's varying forms. I would like to present the argument that in this day of advanced medical care there is most defiantly a place for euthanasia in certain circumstances. And I would like to see it legalised under specific guidelines. For those of you who are not exactly sure euthanasia is the practise of painlessly ending the life of a person who has an incurable disease or handicap.
There are two main types of euthanasia active and passive. Although they are hard to define exactly, passive euthanasia is the withdrawal of life sustaining medical treatment. Active euthanasia is the administration of a lethal dose of drugs.
The first point I would like to make is that it is a wide spread practice that animals in pain with no chance of recovery are put to death out compassion. It seems strange to me that some people feel that under very few circumstances people shouldn't be allowed to die.
In 1996, Britain's largest social research institute conducted a survey about the social attitudes of British people. It is showed that 82% of British people agree with doctors helping patients to die if they have a disease etc. which cannot be cured. They also support the legalisation. Another pole conducted by the media recorded huge majorities supporting legalised passive euthanasia for the incurably ill. In October 1997, out of nearly 3,000 people who took part in a newspaper telephone pole 97% said that terminally ill people should have the right to die with dignity. If such a high percentage believe that it should be allowed, then surely this is an excellent argument for the legislation. .
Some of the reasons why I feel that both passive and active euthanasia should be legalised are if a person over a period of time consistently asks to die for relief of their condition why should they be denied? What right do we have to deny this person the choice? Legislation could include specific guidelines to prevent abuse.