An Ethical Death?

      Almost everyone in their lifetime wonders how and when they will die. Some people get to choose how they wish to die when they are terminally ill.  This is called euthanasia, which is defined as a direct process to end someone’s suffering with full consent from the suffering individual. Many believe the procedure is extremely unethical because someone is ending another individual’s life, even if that individual has consented. However, upon closer inspection, euthanasia  should be considered an acceptable way to end life. Euthanasia comes in two forms, passive and active, which sparks the debate on whether it is ethical or not. Passive euthanasia refers to leaving a patient to die, while active euthanasia refers to a directly putting a patient to death.

      Although euthanasia seems like a valid procedure to peacefully end life, it is illegal in the United States. Euthanasia has been illegal since it was proposed in 1870 due to several cases in the states of New Jersey, California and Texas. The case in California, Barber v. Supreme Court, resulted in two physicians being charged for murder even though they had full consent from the family who believed the patient was suffering. Several politicians in the past have tried to make the procedure legal, but to no avail. In some other countries, euthanasia is legal to an extent. The procedure is legal in five countries, most of which are in Europe.

    Despite euthanasia being illegal in the United States, assisted suicide is legal in several states in the nation. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are doing the same thing in practice, but in slightly different ways. Assisted suicide does not directly use the euthanasia process of death. Instead it lets the patient carry it out themselves with an injection. On the other hand, euthanasia gives a physician full control to carry the process out using the patient’s preferred method. Because it is not legal in most places, people tend to criticize euthanasia as unethical. However, euthanasia and assisted suicide are the most peaceful ways to pass for those suffering from a terminal illness. In the countries where euthanasia is legal, their main argument is that a dying individual rejected the process of euthanasia will most likely take it into their own hands regardless. However, it is a much better option to end someone’s life who is in pain and suffering rather than letting them take matters into their own hands. A civilized society should allow people to die in dignity, without pain, and should allow others to help them do so if they cannot manage it on their own.

    Should an individual be in a state where they cannot decide for themselves whether they want to be euthanized, the family of a terminally ill patient may take the decision into their own hands. However, the closest family members of the patient must complete several stages of paperwork and consent forms to begin the euthanasia process. Within these stages of the euthanasia process, the parties involved are given the right to change their mind at any time.