Whether we like to keep our thoughts about it to a minimum, or just pain ignore it, death and dying are a part of every day life. At some time or another, everyone will be faced with death and the all but impossible decisions one must make for the departed. What happens when that person is still with us and who’s body is ravaged by an incurable disease? What if that same person suffered from a psychological disorder for their entire life and is set on ending his or her life, should we facilitate? With endless scenarios that can play out, can there be a set guideline on the prospect of a “mercy killing”? Should it even be legal?
The act of doctor facilitated euthanasia has been practiced since the times of ancient Greeks1. Although the Greeks penned the Hippocratic Oath, mercy killing was a generally accepted practice.[1] It was not until the 1st century when judeo christian beliefs began to influence how people viewed the right to die. In today’s United States, there are four states (Texas, Washington State, Oregon, and Montana) that recognize an individual’s right to die. Of the four, all but one require a court order to proceed with an assisted suicide. Should an individual’s right to die be dictated by the state court system? Should a medical review board be established? Should the right to die be solely up to the individual?
There are so many questions and no real answer. We can look at other, non human, examples though. We have all seen that poor dog, or that mangy cat, who’s clearly at the end of their life. Maybe it can’t walk or hold its bowels anymore, maybe it’s got cancer. Regardless of what the case is we look at that animal and think, “That poor thing is suffering. I’d put it down if it were my animal.” In fact animal euthanasia is viewed as an act of compassion. Should we view our dying with the same compassion? If you were dying, would you ride off into the sunset quietly, or would you ask for a little help to get you there faster?
[1] ProCon.org (1/4/2010) Euthanasia - A Historical Timeline
Retrieved from
http://euthanasia.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000130
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I don't believe that there should be a law that allows people to kill others even to relieve them from pain. The reason is, just like any other law, some people will abuse it. After Katrina, two doctors were put on trial for euthanizing some hospital patients that could not easily be moved. Some were on a ventilator, some were overweight. The doctors took it upon themselves to give the patients an injection to kill them. Some died quietly and some seized and died a horrible death. The details were later revealed by other hospital staff who refused to help the doctors. The worst part about this story is that the doctors did not even go to jail. I am sure that most, if not all of those patients, would have rather die trying to escape than have this "mercy killing" by the doctors. People choose to end their own lives everyday, that is their choice but euthanasia should not be legal.
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