Euthanasia
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Euthanasia: Your Right to Choose
Dwayne Wright
Strayer University
Prof. Hannah Weir
5/23/11
Eng 215: Research & Writing
Should we force those who are terminally ill to continue to suffer for as long as we can force them to? This is an ethical and legal question that people have been asking for years. Commonly referred to as mercy killing, assisted suicide and euthanasia are unique practices of ending the life of an individual suffering with a terminal disease, illness or an incurable condition by means of lethal injection, in the first case, or by the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment. When people ask to die, they should not be denied the right simply to prolong life because this simply prolongs suffering. It is possible to argue that euthanasia is the ultimate civil right, and that to deprive mentally competent, terminally ill people who want to end their suffering of this choice is to fundamentally disrespect their right to personal autonomy. Consequently, there are many reasons why legislation should be passed to allow those who are terminally ill to be given the right to die.
The history of this worldwide phenomena dates back for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1906 when the first bill to legalize euthanasia in America was introduced in the Ohio legislature. For several years, legislatures have been turning down bills aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In 1937, the Nebraska legislature voted down a bill legalizing voluntary active euthanasia in the U.S. Only two years later, the New York legislature rejected a bill that was also aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In 1991 the Washington State Initiative Bill legalizing voluntary euthanasia was narrowly defeated. In 1994, Oregon passed a law to allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs, but an injunction prevented it from taking effect.
Unlike the United States, in Belgium, lawmakers have agreed on the provisions of a key article in a...
Dwayne Wright
Strayer University
Prof. Hannah Weir
5/23/11
Eng 215: Research & Writing
Should we force those who are terminally ill to continue to suffer for as long as we can force them to? This is an ethical and legal question that people have been asking for years. Commonly referred to as mercy killing, assisted suicide and euthanasia are unique practices of ending the life of an individual suffering with a terminal disease, illness or an incurable condition by means of lethal injection, in the first case, or by the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment. When people ask to die, they should not be denied the right simply to prolong life because this simply prolongs suffering. It is possible to argue that euthanasia is the ultimate civil right, and that to deprive mentally competent, terminally ill people who want to end their suffering of this choice is to fundamentally disrespect their right to personal autonomy. Consequently, there are many reasons why legislation should be passed to allow those who are terminally ill to be given the right to die.
The history of this worldwide phenomena dates back for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1906 when the first bill to legalize euthanasia in America was introduced in the Ohio legislature. For several years, legislatures have been turning down bills aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In 1937, the Nebraska legislature voted down a bill legalizing voluntary active euthanasia in the U.S. Only two years later, the New York legislature rejected a bill that was also aimed at the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. In 1991 the Washington State Initiative Bill legalizing voluntary euthanasia was narrowly defeated. In 1994, Oregon passed a law to allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs, but an injunction prevented it from taking effect.
Unlike the United States, in Belgium, lawmakers have agreed on the provisions of a key article in a...