Euthanasia
Alex Rourke Rourke 1 Mrs. E. Teague English 110 1 May 1999 The origin of the word '' comes from the Greek -- eu, "good," and thanatos, "death," meaning literally, "good death." But the word "" has acquired a more complex meaning in modern times. It is generally taken nowadays to mean doing something about achieving a good death. Suicide, self-deliverance, auto-, aid-in-dying, assisted suicide -- call it what you like -- can be justified by the average supporter of the so-called '"right to die" movement. It is advanced terminal illness that is causing unbearable suffering to the individual. This is the most common reason to seek an early end. Grave physical handicap which is so restricting ...
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person has clearly made a considered decision. An individual has the ability nowadays to indicate this with a "Living Will" (which applies only to disconnection of life supports) and can also, in Rourke 2 today's more open and tolerant climate about such actions, freely discuss the option of with health professionals, family, lawyers, etc. My position is that should be legalized for the terminally ill. Because of the increasing number of suicides in Michigan, Gov. John Engler signed an anti-suicide law that made doctor-assisted suicides a felony. During the 21-month trial period of the new law anyone assisting in a suicide can be sentenced to up to four years in prison and fined more than $2,000 (Reuters 1993). In a poll cited in a 1991 issue of USA Today, 80 percent of Americans think sometimes there are circumstances when a patient should be allowed to die, compared to only 15 percent think doctors and nurses should always do everything possible to save a person's life. It also ...
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a "natural death" instead of a prolonged death with medical equipment . Still another reason is that doctors are supposed to ease the pain of people, not prolong it. (Battin 19). Death is one of the few things that all people have in common. This means that there is a chance for anyone to face the decision of letting someone go. People should be allowed to control their own deaths. Why should patients be forced to live if he or she think their present standard of life has "degenerated to the point of meaningless," when doctors can no longer help, and perhaps the pain has become unbearable? At this point, if the persons of sound mind, he or she should have the choice to continue on or to ...
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"Euthanasia." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Aug. 2007. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia/69207>
"Euthanasia." Essayworld.com. August 6, 2007. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia/69207.
"Euthanasia." Essayworld.com. August 6, 2007. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Euthanasia/69207.
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