The argument is whether or not euthanasia is the right choice. This is a very tough argument to win, because both sides have strong rationale for their opinion.
One question people have asked themselves is, “who does someone's life really belong to?” Long ago, it was believed life either belonged to the church or the State. Today, people can think for themselves and believe in whatever they want, so the question is not easily answered. On account of this, people have different views on the matter.
Oppositions to Euthanasia:
Religion
. Most religions consider euthanasia a grave sin. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, the Bible says, “To every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.” A great deal of people believe this time should be chosen by God, not by the person. They also believe that euthanasia violates the sixth Commandment, “Thou shall not kill”.
Slppery Slope Argument
Many people think that if euthanasia were made legal, it would not be long before people used it more for legalized murder. It is already proven that doctors are more willing to give lethal drugs to AIDS patients.
Choosing Euthanasia because of pain
Most of the people who ask for euthanasia or assisted suicide are in a great deal of pain. People opposing euthanasia argue that medications are available to relieve pain. Unfortunately, for some patients, pain medication is not enough and they are still in a large amount of pain. As well, pain is associated with depression, so someone in pain is less likely to make a good decision.
Vitalism
Vitalism, is the belief that life always has value no matter how negative the person's quality of life.
Euthanasia = Suicide
Some believe people who are asking for euthanasia or assisted suicide are not at all different from those who are suicidal. Since suicidal thoughts are usually caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, they should not have rights, because by definition they are crazy. Therefore, people who ask for euthanasia or assisted suicide are also crazy and should have no rights.
Support for Euthanasia
Religion
We are guaranteed religious freedom in the United States, so religion cannot be a reason for prohibiting euthanasia.
Slippery Slope Argument
As for the slippery slope argument, strict guidelines would be added to prevent abuse and murder. Just like in the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, these guidelines would limit the number of patients allowed to be euthanized.
Pain
In the question of pain, even though medications are available, circumstances do arise when medications are not enough to relieve the pain. Some patients are still in unbearable pain while on medication.
Compassion Killing
People euthanize animals out of compassion, why is it considered murder when the same thing is done to humans? When animals are sick and suffering or very old they are euthanized. Humans should be able to have that same amount of compassion. In addition, polls taken and shown the majority of people approve euthanasia.
Doctor's priorities are in the wrong place
Many feel that modern medicine is too interested in keeping the patient alive and the body operating rather than in the quality of the patient's life. A time comes when the quality of life is so low that the patient no longer wants to keep fighting and just wants to die quietly and peacefully.
All of these arguments show how both sides of this debate have incredibly strong motive for their opinion. Because of this, the euthanasia debate is one of the oldest debates that is still alive today, and will probably continue well into the future.
A Gallup poll on the subject was taken in May of 2006. This poll asked 1,002 adults if “when a person has a disease that cannot be cured, should doctors be allowed by law to end the patient's life by some painless means if the patient and the family request it?” Sixty-nine percent replied with “yes”, while twenty-seven percent said “no”. The other four percent were unsure. The adults were also asked “when a person has a disease that cannot be cured and is living in severe pain, should doctors be allowed by law to assist the patient commits suicide if the patient requests it?” This time, sixty-four percent said “yes”, while thirty-one percent replied “no”. Five percent were unsure. Patients choose euthanasia for many reasons. In a poll conducted of people considering euthanasia, thirty-nine percent said it was because of an inability to enjoy life. Thirty-six percent said they were too much of a burden to their families. Twenty-two percent said they were considering euthanasia because of how much pain they were in every day, and the other three percent said their decision was based on financial problems concerning medical bills (Okie 2). In addition to those reasons, terminal patients sometimes feel trapped in themselves and feel that euthanasia is the best way out (Delury 148).
