Euthanasia is the act of murdering a human voluntarily or involuntarily, and it is motivated by circumstances such as terminal disease or a family feud over inheritance, among others. It is strictly outlawed in many nations around the world, with the majority of them invoking the value of life. The Netherlands is one of the countries that has legalized it, either with or without consent. Reading analysis and pros and cons analysis are two strategies that will be necessary for this research project. The pros and con discussion will be essential in the provision of both sides of the issue on focus and its effects on the society as a whole. Resources that will be vital for the research paper will include peer-review articles, scholarly articles and medical, websites and medical and healthcare books that have fully addressed the euthanasia. In the past decade, cases of euthanasia have been on the rise, and most of them have been attributed by the ethical dilemma faced by the healthcare practitioners. The public, therefore, needs to have a full understanding of the issue as well as whether it’s acceptable. Ending one’s life is ethically and biblically unacceptable, though in some situations it may be called for especially with the consent of the patient.
Thesis
Euthanasia has been embraced by various health care facilities across the globe, but it should be noted that it is a practice that only has to be embraced when need be.
Summary of the findings
Debate on whether euthanasia has to be included as a part of the medical practices has over the years been on the rise, and this has taken tremendous speed especially with the introduction of advanced technology in the field in the past five years. Euthanasia can be categorized to as voluntary and non-voluntary. Under voluntary euthanasia, an individual makes a conscious decision to die and asks for assistance while non-voluntary euthanasia is where an individual is unable to give consent, and another person does it on his or her behalf. Most of those health care facilities that advocate for the issue are pushed by the dilemma that they have to face from time to time when handling their patients (Buiting, van der Heide, and Onwuteaka-Philipsen 56). The number of euthanasia reported cases across the globe, according to the World Health Organization increased significantly from 5% in the year ending 2015 to 7% in the year ending 2016. The increase in the statistical figures provides a clear picture in the increase in the reported case of the issue (Cokeram 45). It should, however, be noted that the issue has received a lot of criticism from different sections around the world citing negative effects such as increased cases of suicide contagion, a means of healthcare cost containment and the rejection of the value of life.
One of those instances that euthanasia is applicable is during abortion with the aim putting the woman out of danger. In such a case, a medical practitioner is given a go ahead to abort the fetus to avoid damage on the woman. According to Sharp, most hospitals across the U.S have on some occasions found themselves in a state of dilemma where they have to end the life of an innocent infant to save the woman. Another situation that calls for the application of assisted suicide is when a patient is terminally ill and feels that the only way out is through death. HIV/AIDS and cancer patients have been on record for asking for euthanasia either because of stigma or the pain that they have to face daily. Such kind of individual can only be allowed to overcome their pain by undergoing assisted deaths. Those patients that are in a coma and have no chances of survival can also undergo involuntary euthanasia which is acceptable in most healthcare facilities.
Various critics, however, argue that euthanasia is illegal and should not be embraced by any medical practitioners. Their basis of argument is that human life is precious and it has to be protected. Intentional denial of medical care to a patient is considered to as unethical, and this has to be dealt with appropriately (Buiting, van der Heide, and Onwuteaka-Philipsen 110-113). Such kind of euthanasia is termed to as an active euthanasia. Such individuals that end up losing their lives have no willingness to lose their lives, but out of the malice from either the doctors or their relatives, they are led to an early grave without their consent (Sharp 231-235). Cases of death penalty and abortion have also been vehemently criticized in various regions across the globe due to the psychological effects that they have on both the victims and their relatives.
Analysis of the findings
Reported issues of euthanasia have been on the rise in the past decade. This trend has been pushed by both the benefits in terms of medical practices and in some cases desire by certain individuals to end the lives of specified persons for their sake. It should be noted that under the English Law, both euthanasia and assisted suicide are considered to as illegal. According to the Suicide Act (1961), it is punishable for a total of 14 years while euthanasia is considered to as murder or man slaughter and may earn an individual a life-term imprisonment. Despite the increasing criticism on euthanasia, medical practitioners still believe that it should be included as a part of their practice due to the increasing number of patients advocating for it. Countries such as Netherland have legalized the issue despite the mounting criticism that it faces from various divides.
Some situations call for the medical practitioners to go out of their oath of practice and embrace euthanasia. Health organization accommodates patients that are considered to as terminally ill or facing massive pains from road accidents or burns. Cancer or other critical disease patients or those that may have experienced a horrible accident may undergo excruciating pain, and this may decide to give the doctors consent for them to take away their lives (Cokeram 45). A patient has the right to choose when he or she can take his life if the condition that he may be facing worsens. In such a case, a physician, given a go ahead by either the patient or the relatives of the affected person may play a role in taking away his life. Relatives of those patients in ICU and whose chances of recovery stand at 0.2% may have to advocate for euthanasia. Instances, where only abortion can save the life of a mother, can be allowed.
Religious groups such as catholic and Anglicans strongly oppose euthanasia arguing that it’s only God that can take away the life of a human being. This implies that medical practitioners are not supposed to be involved in assisted suicide. Most countries around the world have also raised a lot of concerns on the increasing cases of euthanasia, especially with the legalization of abortion in some states (Sharp 231-235). However, despite some medical institutions advocating for the legalization of the issue, it remains unethical. Countries need to set up tough laws on both assisted suicide and euthanasia with the aim of protecting innocent civilians from the unscrupulous doctors that may only be after financial gains. Apparently, this is in line with the principle of virtue ethics which states that character is essential above all hence the value of life.
Critical question
Should euthanasia be legalized?
Is it in line with ethical standards set in the medical field?
Is euthanasia beneficial in the biomedical line of practice?
Are their practices that can be put in place to serve as a substitute for euthanasia?
Conclusion
The legalization of euthanasia is a necessary evil. It is a necessary evil in the sense that it can serve the interest of a few individuals but at the same time impact others negatively. This issue has left several healthcare practitioners in a state of ethical dilemma, however much it may be beneficial. From a bird’s view, euthanasia can be substituted by the religious ideology of allowing an individual to die naturally without the inputs of a medical practitioner. Several healthcare organizations are currently embracing the issue, but from a legal aspect, all they need to consider is that it can be applicable only when life has to be saved.
All in all, euthanasia is unethical and should not be legalized in any country around the world.
Work Cited
Buiting, H. M., A. van der Heide, and B. D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen. "No Increase In Demand For Euthanasia Following Implementation Of The Euthanasia Act In The Netherlands; Pain As A Reason For Euthanasia Request Was Increasing Before Implementation But Declined Subsequently." Evidence-Based Medicine 15.5 (2010): 159-160. Web.
Cokeram, Paul. Euthanasia. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Print.
Sharp, Robert. "The Dangers Of Euthanasia And Dementia: How Kantian Thinking Might Be Used To Support Non-Voluntary Euthanasia In Cases Of Extreme Dementia." Bioethics 26.5 (2012): 231-235. Web.
