Dying with Dignity

5 Pages 1265 Words

“Dying with Dignity”
Understanding Euthanasia
By: Derek Humphry

I found that this book “Dying with Dignity” by Derek Humphry, dealt with euthanasia in a very straightforward manner. The subject is a touchy one and Humphry is not afraid to use the word "suicide". What I particularly liked was the fact that he was not trying to convert people to his point-of-view, he just presented the facts and allowed the reader to make choices for themselves. The author also discussed making choices for family members who have lost the ability to make choices for themselves. As part of the author's efforts to help readers put euthanasia in perspective, he also provided statistics so that the reader could compare their own opinions to how others feel about the various aspects of euthanasia.
Euthanasia is just another word for “mercy killing” as some people put it but it also means good death. I look at it as more of a good death if it is performed with the right procedures and if a person has a legitimate reason to be put to death but many people would not agree with me that it should be legal. There are several categories of euthanasia but in general they are all somewhat alike, the kind I think it should be allowed and not looked bad upon to give the doctors that assist in the death is voluntary euthanasia. Their will always be pros and cons of euthanasia but I think that when a person makes the decision themselves and asks a doctor for help it should be legal if the person is mentally stable and has a good reason or reasons to want to end their life.
Humphry believes that voluntary euthanasia will become lawful within the next few years. He said on page 164, “ I believe that the right to choose to die with dignity at life’s end is the ultimate civil liberty for a person who has given the matter careful consideration and taken all possible steps to advise others. If we cannot die according to our personal wishes, then we are no...