Euthanasia In America

9 Pages 2191 Words

EUTHANASIA IN AMERICA



“Euthanasia The Great Debate Over Legalization”

Over the past decade in the United States the most argued over, debated about issue has been a patient’s right to choose to end their life by means of euthanasia. Euthanasia has been and still remains an extremely controversial issue. With each debate or argument that takes place in regards to legalizing euthanasia there are many questions that have yet to be answered and no clear answers for these questions. Should euthanasia be legalized? Will it open the doors for abuse? Can safeguards be put in place and affectively enforced? Are there any ethical or moral reasons for choosing to die? And is it really painless and peaceful? These are just a few of the concerns that protestors have. However is it not the patients right to end their life? Do they now have the choice to die exactly the way they want? Supporters of legalizing euthanasia present these questions and more. The question at hand is whether euthanasia should be legalized and if it is can there be clear and strict safeguards put in place to reduce the opportunity for abuse.
Before trying to answer the questions at hand, understanding what the meaning of euthanasia is and where it comes from is the first step. “The word Euthanasia originated from the Greek language: Eu means “good” and Thanatos means “death”. The meaning of the word is “the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who wishes to die.”(Robinson) Simply meaning that the person who wishes to commit suicide must be the one to initiate the act or request. The meaning or interpretation of this word can be like many “moral/ethical/religious terms”(Robinson) and have many meanings. Resulting in mass confusion when trying to distinguish a clear meaning and understanding for putting in place propitiate guidelines and regulations for both the patient and the d...