Euthanasia and its Controversy
Euthanasia is a practice of aided suicide aimed at relieving an individual's pain and suffering. The debate on whether Euthanasia should be allowed is controversial because of the perceived infringement of an individual right to life through aided suicide. Voluntary euthanasia is permitted in some selected states in the USA and Canada. Because of its controversial nature, it is the most researched subject of bioethics. A survey conducted in the USA showed 45 % of the physicians were in support of voluntary euthanasia while 40 % of the physicians were against it in entirety. In this essay by examining the pros and cons of euthanasia, we intend to show whether the federal government should legalize euthanasia.
The Need to Legalize Euthanasia
It is essential for the USA government to legalize euthanasia since it does not shorten lives as often presented. A study conducted by a Dutch scientist in 1991 showed that about 80 % of the euthanasia cases shortened the life of a patient by a maximum of seven days (Battin, Rhodes & Silvers, 2015). It is thus apparent that the patients would have nonetheless died sooner even if they were not euthanized. Euthanasia helped save the patients' lives. Besides, it is possible to regulate euthanasia. Contrary to popular belief, that it is difficult to control euthanasia by creating a room for patients to be euthanized without their consent; it is possible to regulate the whole process. Developed nations such as the Netherlands, which have legalized euthanasia, have had minor legal problems to contend (Muson & Perry, 2014). On the other hand, euthanasia undermines medical research. Legalizing euthanasia will limit advanced medical research on eliminating patient agony because there is an easy way of managing the patient's suffering (Nunes & Rego, 2016).
Supporting the Legalization of Euthanasia
From the above arguments, it is evident euthanasia does not infringe on an individual's right to live as often argued. In fact, it relieves the patients from extreme agony. Besides, since people have the right to live, they also have an equal right to die. Therefore, it is essential for the federal government to legalize euthanasia.
References
Battin, M. P., Rhodes, R., " Silvers, A. (2015). Physician-assisted suicide: expanding the debate. Routledge
Muson, C., " Perry, J. K. (2014). Negotiating a good death: Euthanasia in the Netherlands. Routledge.
Nunes, R., " Rego, G. (2016). Clinical Research " Bioethics.
