Pro Euthanasia Essay

The practice of euthanasia can be traced back to the darkest period in the twentieth century, the Holocaust. Hitler’s Aktion T4 program during the Second World War was created with the resolve to purge the Aryan race of congenital defects. Physicians ended the lives of some 100,000 persons across Nazi Europe. All of occupied countries, but the Netherlands participated in the killings. Recently there has been an ironic change of heart on euthanasia for the Dutch and Germans. In 2001, even as 10,000 Dutch citizens protested outside The Hague, the vote was 46 to 28 in legalizing the heinous practice. The world and especially the German response of horror to the Dutch allowing euthanasia was immediate. Doctor George Paul Hefty said in the Frankfurter
However, little distinction is made between the two categories of demise today for they are both referred to universally as “euthanasia”. Most would consider the methods in which all euthanasia is carried out to be lethal injection and or pills but there are more appalling ways in which people are slain. In the Netherlands, there is a private “charity” that operates portable euthanasia vans, which go from door to door. They check in every week to assist those who would like to die, but could not as their doctor would not permit it (Stanley). Oregon’s Measure 16 led to advocates to believe that if pills were taken, a plastic bag should be utilized so that the patient would be guaranteed death. In Australia, a measure was passed that allowed carbon monoxide gas for use along with lethal injections. It was also advised that family members exit the room when a patient is being killed because of the involuntary convulsions and muscle spasms that would ensue (International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force). With these disturbing cases of euthanasia, it would be little surprise to find the profound effects that would be reflected in society and the