Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia on All 50 States
-- by Krystal Pimentel
During the past decades the issue of “dying with dignity” has become a sensitive and popular subject that society speaks and criticizes a lot. Euthanasia is a form of assisted suicide, which gives the patient the power and choice to end their lives. Society has taught us that we have the right of liberty, freedom, education and life, but shouldn't people have the right to die as well? There have been many occasions that people are in pain and they are suffering, waiting for death. Who can call that a life in which a person has to suffer until they die?
There are many positive characteristics that come from supporting euthanasia. Some of them include that they can quickly end a patients suffering and it will shorten the patient’s family grief. According to religious studies online website, “death is a private matter, and if you are not hurting anyone else, the state should not interfere.” There is also the reason of being able to stop your pets suffering by putting them down, why can you not give the same act of kindness to a human being?
From my perspective, I support euthanasia. When I was young my grandmother was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and for those who do not know what it is, it affects the liver making it fail or it gives liver cancer. During the time that she was sick, we had to drive her up to the Baylor Fort Worth hospital in order for her to be treated. She lost a lot of blood and was in pain for a long time. While she was in the hospital waiting for her time to come, and was living only because the medical machines were supporting her life, she decided to tell us that she was ready to die. She had fulfilled everything she wanted to do, and she didn’t want to cause any more trouble to her children. Since the hospital was located in Texas physicians have the right to withdraw life support measures if the treatments are unsupportive. With this reason I support euthanasia in order to stop the suffering of people who are counting the days for their death.
The current policy in which euthanasia stands is that “the federal government and all 50 states and the District of Columbia prohibit euthanasia under general homicide laws. The federal government does not have assisted suicide laws, and those laws are generally handled at the state level” (Procon). What this means is that euthanasia is being stopped by the states and citizens on their own. This policy should be modified in order to fulfill the “freedom” that America gives. To change this, an option would be that there should be a signed consent form by doctor, patient, and witness, which can preferably be family members. Doctors should not face punishment for fulfilling the patients and families wishes. They should be able to remove the respiratory and feeding tubes if they are completely useless to keep the patient alive. Another way that will help pleasing everyone would be to take care of the patients even when their days are counted. Terminally ill patients should still be able to receive care, medicine, and support even if it is determined that a cure for their illness is impossible.
References
Procon.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000132
More, T. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/christian_perspectives/life/euthanasia/for.htmDharapak, C. (Photographer). (2007, October 9). Give me liberty at my death [Print Photo].
Retrieved from
http://www.pewforum.org/Science-and-Bioethics/The-Right-to-Die-Debate-and-the-Tenth-Anniversary-of-Oregons-Death-with-Dignity-Act.aspx
http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000132
More, T. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/christian_perspectives/life/euthanasia/for.htmDharapak, C. (Photographer). (2007, October 9). Give me liberty at my death [Print Photo].
Retrieved from
http://www.pewforum.org/Science-and-Bioethics/The-Right-to-Die-Debate-and-the-Tenth-Anniversary-of-Oregons-Death-with-Dignity-Act.aspx
What do you think you did well?
- I believe that the way I introduced my opinion was formed very well. Also the personal experience was what made it more opinionated.
- If i could have had more time I would of have send my opinion piece to be revised by my peers and ask for suggestions on what to include.