Life Lesson/Lifestyle/Euthanasia

Is Euthunasia Morally Justifiable?

Should we, as humans, decide on matters of life and death?

Euthunasia is derived from the Greek word ethunatos, which means easy death.

Euthunasia is killing to relieve the sick from further suffering. It is usually practiced on those with incurable conditions, but in rare cases, it is carried out under a different condition, at the request of the person.

What is the difference between killing and allowing death to occur naturally?

This question cannot be answered without attaching our morals and emotions to it. What love are we giving the terminally sick to want to end their lives, or what is the value of human lives to us?

Euthunasia can take place by withholding essential treatments that are supposed to keep the person alive, or by simply administering lethal doses of medication to kill.

Points to consider in Euthanasia

Pro Euthunasia argues that if a person suffers from incurable illnesses that cause pain and discomfort, then the person should be allowed to die with dignity. They can be helped to do so if they cannot do it themselves.

The anti-euthunasia argument argues that life can only be taken by God, who gives it, and no one else. And if euthanasia is legalised, people will abuse it, and cover up murder as euthanasia.

‘However, permitting physicians to engage in euthanasia would ultimately cause more harm than good. Euthanasia is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer.’ American Medical Association.

Voluntary euthanasia is when the sick patient asks to die, while involuntary euthanasia is when euthanasia is carried out while the patient is not able to consent to it.

Euthanasia devalues the sanctity of life. Also, the issue of pallative care is neglected, which can be prolonged by proper pallative care.

Euthanasia means the lives of the sick are worthless, and finding a cure is deemed not necessary.

Euthanasia is not in the patient’s best interest, everyone wants to live.

In most religions, suffering has its value, and we should not undermine the patient’s ability to receive spiritual benefits by going through the suffering of the illness, which he needs for his spiritual ascent before passing.

The Takeaways

• People seeking euthanasia suffer psychologically from depression, and having to depend on others (loss of dignity).
• Voluntary ethunasia, or assisted suicide, is still illegal in the UK, despite its growing acceptance in most European countries. It can lead to a maximum of fourteen years in prison.
• Assisted suicide is when a person intentionally assists a patient, at their request, to terminate his or her life.