Euthanasia
The term euthanasia comes from the greek words for good and death.(Abernethy 430) Euthanasia often has a positive conotation in the idea that a suffering person will be relieved by means of a mercy killing. Having existed since almost the beginning of time, mercy killings have been a way for people to escape the fear and pain of dying a slow and painful death. Back during the times of when the Scotish people where fighting for their independence from England, many persons suffering from lepercy and mortal wounds as a result of battles would be put to rest in hopes to end the suffering and both physical and mental pain on the victim. Because of the idea of euthanasia being a mercy killing, there is little guilt involved for those surrounding the dying victim because they feel as though they are helping the victim who is in a way being liberated from his or her pain. Christian Scientists in a way practice euthanasia because of the stringent practice of withholding medical care which could help extend a suffering person's life. Christian Scientists feel that God has given a person a illness for a reason and that the practice of medicine to help the person suffering from the illness goes against he will of God and that sicness must be cured by means of prayer. Because Christian Scientists allow people to die without assistance of medicine, they are in a way believers in euthanasia. Started in the mid to late ninteenth century by Mary Baker Eddy, the religion of Christian Scientists has put the issue of allowing people to die through denying them medical care up for review and debate by Americans and all people.(Anonomous 524)
"Many people believe that physicians should use every means to maintain a person's life as long as possible. But others argue that dying patients and their physicians have the right to choose whether life-maintaing treatments should be continued. Some people also feel that this decision should be left to the family and physician if the patient is no longer capapble of expressing his or her wishes. "(Fulton 61)
When speaking to a very well-known and praised physician, I discovered some interesting facts I had not previously uncovered. "Dr. Perry Shoor has been practicing vascular surgery at Sequoia Hospital since 1978, and in that time has performed over 4,000 peripheral vascular operations. In addition to the standard vascular problems, he has interest and expertist in endovascular arterial repair(ballon dilation, atherectomy and stents),vein problems(varicose veins) and complex hemodialysis access problems. Medical results rank him among the most talented with stroke and death rates of one percent in his last 200 carotid operations. He has authored many journal articles and book chapters on topics specific to vascular surgery. Dr. Shoor recieved his undergraduate degree in Analytical Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his medical training at The Chicago Medical School and University of California, San Diego. He did a fellowship peripheral vascular surgery at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City California and Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. He is now certified by the American Board of Surgery with a Certificate of Special Qualification in General Vascular Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons."(Shoor 1)
Dr. Shoor feels that voluntary euthanasia is okay, although only under certain circumstances. Dr. Shoor said that he felt that there was a large difference between mercy killings and alowing someone to die. He felt that a person who is going to die in the immediate future has the choice to deny treatment and die. "To operate on someone against their will is battery," Dr. Shoor said. One can not force a person to be operated on if he or she says that he or she does not want treatment. Dr. Shoor said that a mercy killing can only be carried out under very precise conditions; the person who will recieve the euthanasia must be suffering from a terminally ill disease in which the chance of recovery is almost zero percent, and the person must consent to the mercy killing, and in most incidents must ask for it. A person's family may not decide whether for or against a mercy killing if the patient is capable of thinking and speaking. Dr. Shoor said that the times when a family's input is considered and possibly used when referring to euthanasia, is when a person is in a coma. A scenario given of a typical incident involving the practice of euthanasia(allowing someone to die) by Dr. Shoor was a seventy-five year old man comes into the emergency room with a ruptured anurism; the man is made aware of his condition and is told that without medical treatment he is almost certainly going to die within the next day or two. The man considers his options and says, "You know what? I've lived a long good life. I've done all that I want to and I wish to deny treatment and let nature take its course." In this incident Dr. Shoor would have no choice but to allow the man to die. But if the man came in and said he wished to be injected with something which would stop his heart beat, then he would be asking for a mercy killing, or even assisted suicide. In this incident, Dr. Shoor would deny euthanasia because with an operation the man could fully recover and go on living for a couple more years.(Shoor 1) Dr. Shoor's overall feeling and practice of euthanasia is that it is only to be done to those consenting people who have a terminally ill disease to which there is much suffering and relativly no chance of recovery.
http://www.hypercon.com/specialpals/death.htm A chart showing the rates of euthanasia among pets and animals(shows how euthanasia is not just a conflicty with humans). |
This article shows that with eutanasia being illegal more heinous acts may be commited in order to give someone "euthanasi" while not commiting a crime Aussies Weigh Second Pro-Euthanasia detailed acount of broadcasting and advertising of euthanasia in Europe and Australia |
an information site which helps with research of/for euthanasia www.islandnet.com/~deathnet/ergo.html this site gives definition to terms and answers to questions pertaining to euthanasia, such as what rights to death does a person have? believes that people who wish to retain their dignity and choices at the end of life should have the option of a peacful and gentle death |
www.rights.org/deathnet/HELP_AUSTIN.html A personal story of a man who was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis; personal feelings and information on what we as people can do to help those who want the right to die |
