EUTHANASIA SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED IN AMERICA

Euthanasia should not be legalized in America

Euthanasia should not be legalized in America

Introduction

Euthanasia refers to the intentional bringing about of the death of a patient, either by killing him/her, or by letting him/her die, for the patient's sake to prevent further pain or suffering from a terminal illness. Euthanasia is a complex issue in many underlying theological, sociological, moral, and legal aspects. Its legalization is heavily debated around the world, with strong arguments made for both sides of the issue.

Euthanasia should not be legalized in America

In essence, nothing is worse than our right to life itself being diminished in value from the theological perspective. The debate of legalizing euthanasia is not about the right to commit suicide or to assist in suicide. It is about placing the lives of the weakest among us in the hands of people other than themselves who often have self-serving agendas. Once society gives a group of people the right to end life, our right to life disappears behind red tape.

In many parts of the world, patients now see themselves as 'customers' or 'clients,' and doctors view themselves as mere 'providers' of services. Given this understanding, it is little wonder that patients believe they have the 'right' to purchase or ask for what they want - and that such a right should encompass euthanasia.

Euthanasia is necessary, it is claimed, because many patients are in agony and pain and are forced into life-prolonging treatments. But people are not forced to undergo treatment. It is perfectly legitimate in Canada to refuse treatment even if this clearly hastens death. It is also legitimate to refuse food and liquids. Euthanasia is not the only method of relieving pain; adequate relief is possible for most patients, including those in the terminal phase of illness. However terrible the idea of starving to death might be, those who choose to refuse food and liquids can be kept comfortable without major problems. The better response to patients in pain is not to kill them, but to make sure that the medicine and technology currently available to control pain is used more widely and completely. According to a 1992 manual produced by the Washing ton Medical Association, Pain Management and Care of the Terminal Patient, “adequate interventions exist to control pain in 90 to 99% of patients.”(Albert Einstein, 1992) But for the approximately five percent of patients who do not respond to traditional pain-relief treatment, total sedation can be practiced. This does not mean that pain relief is always provided. Health-care professionals frequently do not provide adequate pain relief from an unfounded and often absurd fear of drug addiction. But research shows, however, that only 0.04% of patients treated with morphine become addicted. (Jane M. Anderson, 1992) Another problem is that uninformed medical personnel using outdated or inadequate methods often fail in practice to bring patients relief from pain that today's advanced techniques make possible. The solution is not to legalize euthanasia but to educate people, including health-care professionals, ...