(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Physician-assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

            Physician-assisted Suicide and Euthanasia.
             Should Physicians Heed requests to help patients take their own lives? This is the question which sparked a wide spread debate regarding the right of a patient to live or to die. These debates try to conclude whether such practices are mercy upon the dying or murder of a human being. Seventy to eighty percent of people in developed nations, such as the U.S. can expect to die of a condition with a long, downhill course. Even extremists from both sides of the arguments agree that there are certain cases where a physician assisted suicide or euthanasia should be an option. These such people also agree that there are certain cases where a life can be saved. The question arises as to where one draws the line. .
             The fight to legalize physician assisted suicide of Euthanasia is gaining ground. It is viewed as a way to help suffering people. The strongest argument points out that any life worse than death should not be lived. These advocates believe that it is a doctor's duty to ease suffering even if this means assisting a patient in suicide. Healing can be viewed as relieving a person from a very difficult situation. The quality of the patient's life involves pain, but also involves common dignity. One should be able to make a "final exit" rather than suffer through a vegetable status. In many cases where a terminal illness is being fought, euthanasia should be a choice. Many family members of such terminally ill patients do not want to witness a drawn out dying process, which they find meaningless. .
             Many arguments have arisen against the taking of a life. Some consider physician assisted suicide as "cold, heartless murder." In 1990, Janet Adkins was helped to her inevitable death by Dr. Kevorkian. Janet had alzheimer's disease. A related and sustainable concern which is related to the murder debate is the question of weather or not Amrican doctors would follow any statutes set up by the government.


Essays Related to Physician-assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

1. Terminal Illness and the Euthanasia Option

Euthanasia is often referred to "physician assisted suicide" or "death with dignity.... This starts the debate on whether or not euthanasia is to be considered "assisted suicide" or "death with dignity.... In the article Euthanasia and assisted suicide: A physician's and ethicist's perspective, they concluded that "...euthanasia is harmful to individuals, especially vulnerable people, physicians, the institutions of laws and medicine, and society..." (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide 11). ... Being that our country only has four states, as of ri...

  • Word Count: 1618
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography

2. Euthanasia

The demands for assisted suicide and euthanasia are increasing and are causing upheaval throughout America. ... Nevertheless during the Renaissance, people stopped to criticize suicide. ... In Euthanasia: The Battle for Life, Dr. ... For the court to accept assisted suicide would send a false signal that a less-than-perfect life is not worth living (Chicago Tribune, 1996)." This stance is surprisingly different from surveys of Jewish willingness to participate in physician-assisted suicide. ...

  • Word Count: 3258
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Euthanasia

This meant that people had the right to choose medically assisted suicide. ... Vacco was a case in which the court threw out New York's ban on assisted suicide. Three Supreme Court Judges ruled in favor of the right to assisted suicide. ... It has been almost 10 years that Oregon has allowed assisted suicide. ... Some Australians are also in favor of legal assisted suicide and are marketing do-it-yourself suicide machines. ...

  • Word Count: 1318
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Debate of Euthanasia

EUTHANASIA One of the most important debates today surrounds the issues of euthanasia and assisted suicides. ... Oregon permits assisted suicide, the Netherlands and Belgium permit both euthanasia and assisted suicide, and many more are thinking of legalizing the act. ... In the U.S. legalizing "voluntary active euthanasia [assisting suicide] means legalizing involuntary euthanasia. ... In the Netherlands, legalizing voluntary assisted suicide for those with terminal illness has spread to include involuntary euthanasia for many who have no terminal illnesses. ... I believe euthanasia should...

  • Word Count: 639
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Euthanasia

Today's society has many different names for it such as: suicide, self-deliverance, auto-euthanasia, aid-in-dying, assisted suicide, death with dignity, and playing God. ... I am glad that assent-suicide is a crime in most places, including here. The word euthanasia comes for a Greek word meaning literally "good death." ... This is not merciful by any means, (Euthanasia)." ... Euthanasia touches some of the deepest feelings in human beings. ...

  • Word Count: 585
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Euthanasia

Physicians may practice two forms of euthanasia: active and passive euthanasia. ... (Encarta) Euthanasia differs from assisted suicide, in which a patient voluntarily brings about his or her own death with the assistance of another person, typically a physician. In this case, the act is a suicide (intentional self-inflicted death), because the patient actually causes his or her own death. In voluntary euthanasia, a person asks to die (by either active or passive euthanasia). ... Afterward, in 1993, the Dutch parliament passed the law that provided official guidelines to euthanasia and physic...

  • Word Count: 696
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Euthanasia

Euthanasia I chose to write my paper on Euthanasia or "Physician assisted suicide." ... They feel that suicide should not be option. ... • Anyone who commits suicide is committing a sin. ... In 1979, the Lutheran Church issued a report on Euthanasia, it condemned euthanasia because it involves suicide and murder and is contrary to God's law. ... Persons whose quality of life is nonexistent should have the right to decide to commit suicide, and to seek assistance if necessary. ...

  • Word Count: 1208
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Euthanasia

Throughout the past decade, euthanasia and physician assisted suicide have become controversial topics in every culture and religion in the world. ... Suicide and physician assisted suicide would then be considered a rejection of the higher power's wishes and life plan for the person killed (Robinson). ... Everyone is granted the right to commit suicide and end their life if they feel that they cannot handle living with a chronic problem. ... Merlihan 5 In an interview, Kevorkian stated that not every doctor should be allowed to practice physician assisted suicide like he once did. ... ...

  • Word Count: 2129
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Euthanasia - Physician Assisted Suicide

The assisted methods are two; euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS). However, the scope of this paper confines itself o euthanasia. ... The Baptists have been noted to support Euthanasia. ... The alternative is to initiate euthanasia. ... Inducing euthanasia denies them this unusual opportunity. ...

  • Word Count: 1466
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography

10. Euthanasia

Legalizing Euthanasia The word euthanasia comes from a Greek phrase meaning "good death-; identified by David Cundiff in his book Euthanasia is not the answer (1). ... "Assisted suicide- is another term that is similar to euthanasia. ... There are two different types of euthanasia: "active euthanasia- and "passive euthanasia."" ... There are some clear cases in which euthanasia or assisted-suicide are a must. ... Opposition to doctor-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia is not limited to the United States. ...

  • Word Count: 2131
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question