Department of English & Scientific Method

Euthanasia

What Euthanasia is NOT: There is no euthanasia unless the death is intentionally caused
by what was done or not done. Thus, some medical actions that are often labeled "passive
euthanasia" are no form of euthanasia, since the intention to take life is lacking. These
acts include not commencing treatment that would not provide a benefit to the patient,
withdrawing treatment that has been shown to be ineffective, too burdensome or is
unwanted, and the giving of high doses of pain-killers that may endanger life, when they
have been shown to be necessary. All those are part of good medical practice, endorsed
by law, when they are properly carried out

Source: http://www.euthanasia.com/definitions.html

Arguments Against Euthanasia

1. Euthanasia would not only be for people who are "terminally ill"
2. Euthanasia can become a means of health care cost containment
3. Euthanasia is a rejection of the importance and value of human life

1. Euthanasia would not only be for people who are "terminally ill." There are many
definitions for the word "terminal." Some laws define "terminal" condition as one from
which death will occur in a "relatively short time." Others state that "terminal" means
that death is expected within six months or less.

Medical experts acknowledge that it is virtually impossible to predict the life expectancy
of a particular patient. Some people diagnosed as terminally ill don't die for years, if at
all, from the diagnosed condition. Increasingly, however, euthanasia activists have
dropped references to terminal illness, replacing them with such phrases as "hopelessly
ill," "desperately ill," "incurably ill," "hopeless condition," and "meaningless life."

2. Euthanasia can become a means of health care cost containment

Perhaps one of the most important developments in recent years is the increasing
emphasis placed on health care providers to contain costs. In such a climate, euthanasia
certainly could become a means of cost containment.

1 Compiled by R. Hamdy & N. Fahim

 Department of English & Scientific Method

In the United States, thousands of people have no medical insurance; studies have shown
that the poor and minorities generally are not given access to available pain control, and
managed-care facilities are offering physicians cash bonuses if they don't provide care for
patients. With greater and greater emphasis being placed on managed care, many doctors
are at financial risk when they provide treatment for their patients. Legalized euthanasia
raises the potential for a profoundly dangerous situation in which doctors could find
themselves far better off financially if a seriously ill or disabled person "chooses" to die
rather than receive long-term care.

3. Euthanasia is a rejection of the importance and value of human life. People who
support euthanasia often say that it is already considered permissible to take human life
under some circumstances such as self defense - but they miss the point that when one
kills for self defense they are saving innocent life - either their own or someone else's.
With euthanasia no one's life is being saved - life is only taken.

History has taught us the dangers of euthanasia and that is why there are only two
countries in the world today where it is legal; Holland and Belgium. That is why almost
all societies - even non-religious ones - for thousands of years have made euthanasia a
crime.

Source:http://www.euthanasia.com/argumentsagainsteuthanasia.html

2 Compiled by R. Hamdy & N. Fahim

 Department of English & Scientific Method

Reasons for Euthanasia

1. Unbearable pain
2. Right to commit suicide
3. People should not be forced to stay alive

1. Unbearable pain as the reason for euthanasia

Probably the major argument in favor of euthanasia is that the person involved is in great
pain. Today, advances are constantly being made in the treatment of pain and, as they
advance, the case for euthanasia/assisted-suicide is proportionally weakened.

Nearly all pain can be eliminated and - in those rare cases where it can't be eliminated - it
can still be reduced significantly if proper treatment is provided. With modern advances
in pain control, no patient should ever be in excruciating pain. There are board certified
specialists in pain management who will not only help alleviate physical pain but are
skilled in providing necessary support to deal with emotional suffering and depression
that often accompanies physical pain.

2. Demanding a "right to commit suicide" Probably the second most common point
pro-euthanasia people bring up is this so-called "right." But what we are talking about is
not giving a right to the person who is killed, but to the person who does the killing. In
other words, euthanasia is not about the right to die. It's about the right to kill. Euthanasia is not
about giving rights to the person who dies but, instead, is about changing the law and
public policy so that doctors, relatives and others can directly and intentionally end
another person's life. People do have the power to commit suicide. Suicide and attempted
suicide are not criminalized. Suicide is a tragic, individual act. Euthanasia is not about a
private act. It's about letting one person facilitate the death of another. That is a matter of
very public concern since it can lead to tremendous abuse, exploitation and erosion of
care for the most vulnerable people among us.

3. Should people be forced to stay alive? No. And neither the law nor medical ethics
requires that "everything be done" to keep a person alive. Insistence, against the patient's
wishes, that death be postponed by every means available is contrary to law and practice.
It would also be cruel and inhumane. There comes a time when continued attempts to
cure are not compassionate, wise, or medically sound. That's where hospice, including in-
home hospice care, can be of such help. That is the time when all efforts should be
placed on making the patient's remaining time comfortable. Then, all interventions
should be directed to alleviating pain and other symptoms as well as to the provision of
emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and the patient's loved ones.

Source: http://www.euthanasia.com/reasonsforeuthanasia.html

3 Compiled by R. Hamdy & N. Fahim

 Department of English & Scientific Method

4 Compiled by R. Hamdy & N. Fahim