euthanasia argument for and against
1. Euthanasia : Argument for and against 10-15 pages
Introduction
Covan (2000) articulated that the word euthanasia is derived from two Greek words eu meaning good or easy and thanatos meaning death. Thus, the word Euthanasia plainly means an easy or good death in the sense that it is considered painless. The topic of euthanasia elicits a rather emotional and powerful as it involves choosing between life and death. Euthanasia has been a prohibited medical practice for over two thousand years however with the emergence of terminal illnesses which have no cure the quest for its legalization has sparked debates in countries across the world. Among those countries that have legalized it include Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium (Best, 2010).The concept of euthanasia can be viewed from four different perspectives as outlined by Bada and Santosh (2012)
1. Active Euthanasia- is whereby the instigator of death is the physician where he or she does deliberately does something causing the patient life
2. Passive Euthanasia-on the other hand is where the patient because the health professional have stopped doing the necessary to keep the patient alive. This can be switching off of the life support machines, fail to conduct life extending operations, withholding life extending drugs or disconnecting a feeding tube.
3. Physician Assisted Euthanasia – this where the physician prescribes medicine that helps a patient in dying. This can be given to the patient or a third party such as a relative to administer it
4. Voluntary Euthanasia – this where the patient wants to die and thus asks for help in dying. This can also happen by refusing to eat, asking for medical treatment to be stopped or for the life support machines to be switched off.
5. Involuntary Euthanasia- this is where the patient does give consent to his or dying but the consent may be given by a guardian.
6. Non voluntary Euthanasia- this where the patient cannot make the decision or cannot make known
Introduction
Covan (2000) articulated that the word euthanasia is derived from two Greek words eu meaning good or easy and thanatos meaning death. Thus, the word Euthanasia plainly means an easy or good death in the sense that it is considered painless. The topic of euthanasia elicits a rather emotional and powerful as it involves choosing between life and death. Euthanasia has been a prohibited medical practice for over two thousand years however with the emergence of terminal illnesses which have no cure the quest for its legalization has sparked debates in countries across the world. Among those countries that have legalized it include Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium (Best, 2010).The concept of euthanasia can be viewed from four different perspectives as outlined by Bada and Santosh (2012)
1. Active Euthanasia- is whereby the instigator of death is the physician where he or she does deliberately does something causing the patient life
2. Passive Euthanasia-on the other hand is where the patient because the health professional have stopped doing the necessary to keep the patient alive. This can be switching off of the life support machines, fail to conduct life extending operations, withholding life extending drugs or disconnecting a feeding tube.
3. Physician Assisted Euthanasia – this where the physician prescribes medicine that helps a patient in dying. This can be given to the patient or a third party such as a relative to administer it
4. Voluntary Euthanasia – this where the patient wants to die and thus asks for help in dying. This can also happen by refusing to eat, asking for medical treatment to be stopped or for the life support machines to be switched off.
5. Involuntary Euthanasia- this is where the patient does give consent to his or dying but the consent may be given by a guardian.
6. Non voluntary Euthanasia- this where the patient cannot make the decision or cannot make known
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