What Is Euthanasia An Ethical Issue In Canada

(Intro) Unfortunately, throughout the world, individuals have always had their rights either outlawed or removed from them no matter what type of subject matter is in question. Although a controversial issue in the world, euthanasia is a right that everyone is entitled to. The law in Canada prohibiting this issue must be lifted. It is one’s own choice whether to live their life or end their life, therefore no one is permitted to remove that decision from them. Due to legal, moral and ethical issues regarding euthanasia, even the concept itself is controversial. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, euthanasia is considered homicide, thus making any form of it a crime. Euthanasia can be defined as mercy killing, good/peaceful death or
If one desires to end their life they should be allowed to do as they please, and no one is entitled to have a say in the matter. No one but the individual knows what he or she is going through, and the physical, or psychological anguish their illness is causing. If someone is kept alive against their will it is considered torture, which is its turn, is often times considered a crime worse than murder. Euthanasia is the painless way someone suffering from a terminal illness can put end to their life, but legally it is considered a crime. Under section 14 of the Criminal Code of Canada it states that “No person is entitled to consent to have death inflicted on him, and such consent does not affect the criminal responsibility of any person whom death may be inflicted on the person by whom consent is given,”¹ followed by section 241 which states that “Everyone who counsels a person to commit suicide or aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.”² Although illegal, physicians do practice euthanasia by either removing their patient from life support or administering a lethal dose of drugs at a monitored pace to induce a rather slow but peaceful death. This practice is breaking of the medical profession’s Hippocratic Oath that states “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if
The living will is a document that states how the individual wishes to be treated if they become incapacitated by illness, injury or old age. The living will document consists of the document itself, Power of Attorney for Health Care and optional documents including Personal Values Statement, and an Organ Donation Statement. Although the living will is a great option for individuals depending on what types of circumstances they are involved in, the issue can also be debatable. Medical staff must take in consideration certain factors regarding the living will, including whether or not the “will” has ever been revoked, whether or not a surviving relative desires to have the hospital overlook the will, if and how will the will prevent the doctor from criminal charges under section 215 of the Criminal Code of Canada, and if the living will is on an audio-tape, how effective will it be. These are some of the concerns regarding the living will, which sometimes can be overlooked, but often times not. No matter what no one has the right to force a person to live if they do not wish to. Unfortunately these cases do happen, and the person has to battle for their right to end their