Right to Die with Dignity - The concept of Euthanasia has been a controversial topic since its inception. The word ‘Euthanasia’ is derived from Greek, ‘Eu’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘thanatos’ meaning ‘death’, put together it means ‘good death’. Euthanasia is defined as the hastening of death of a patient to prevent further sufferings.
Euthanasia is a deliberate action taken with the intention of ending a life to relieve persistent pain. Euthanasia has long been an emotive topic. I am just looking at it from a debate surrounding the decisions.
Common conditions which make patients to seek euthanasia are terminally ill cancer patients, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other terminally ill conditions where there is no active treatment.
Various arguments are commonly cited for and against euthanasia.
Arguments for
1. Freedom of choice: Advocates argue that the person should be able to make their own choice.
2. Quality of life: Only the individual really knows how they feel, and how the physical and emotional pain of illness and prolonged death impacts their quality of life.
3. Dignity: Every individual should be able to die with dignity.
4. Witnesses: Many who witness the slow death of others believe that assisted death should be allowed.
5. Resources: It makes more sense to channel the resources of highly skilled staff, equipment, hospital beds, and medications toward lifesaving treatments for those who wish to live, rather than those who do not.
6. Humane: It is more humane to allow a person with intractable suffering to be allowed to choose to end that suffering.
7. Loved ones: It can help to shorten the grief and suffering of loved ones.
8. We already do it: If a beloved pet has intractable suffering, it is seen as an act of kindness to put it to sleep. Why should this kindness be denied to humans?
Arguments against
1, The doctor’s role: Healthcare professionals may be unwilling to compromise their professional roles, especially in the light of the Hippocratic Oath.
2. Moral and religious arguments: Several faiths see euthanasia as a form of murder and morally unacceptable. Suicide, too, is “illegal” in some religions. Morally, there is an argument that euthanasia will weaken society’s respect for the sanctity of life.
3. Patient competence: Euthanasia is only voluntary if the patient is mentally competent, with a lucid understanding of available options and consequences, and the ability to express that understanding and their wish to terminate their own life. Determining or defining competence is not straightforward.
4. Guilt: Patients may feel they are a burden on resources and are psychologically pressured into consenting. They may feel that the financial, emotional, and mental burden on their family is too great. Even if the costs of treatment are provided by the state, there is a risk that hospital personnel may have an economic incentive to encourage euthanasia consent.
5, Mental illness: A person with depression is more likely trusted source to ask for assisted suicide, and this can complicate the decision.
6. Slippery slope: There is a risk that physician-assisted suicide will start with those who are terminally ill and wish to die because of intractable suffering, but then begin to include other individuals.
7. Possible recovery: Very occasionally, a patient recovers, against all the odds. The diagnosis might be wrong.
8. Palliative care: Good palliative care makes euthanasia unnecessary.
9. Regulation: Euthanasia cannot be properly regulated.
Opinion Matters:
Everybody who is in pain and undergoes suffering due to terminal illness should be given the fundamental Right to Die with Dignity, It makes no sense if that person does not wish to drag on his life unnecessarily and suffer endlessly. It is his life. If he does not want to continue, nobody should prevent him.
Death has been almost ugly. Man has been a victim, but it is our fault. Death can be made a celebration; you just have to learn how to welcome it, relaxed and peaceful.
For people suffering from such terminal illnesses - and other terminally ill conditions where there is no active treatment - Every hospital should have a special ward and special facilities – to let them leave life with no grudge, with no complaint but only with deep gratitude, thankfulness.
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