Euthanasia
22July 1, 2015 by Aleksandra Łuczak
Author: Magdalena Tomasik, Kozminski University
‘Death’ – just this word seems terrifying. Nearly everyone is doing all they can to postpone it, but what about those who know that nothing can be done? By the law human has a right to live in peace and with dignity. Why then only some of the countries allow for the people to die in peaceful and dignifying way?
One of the countries that have made euthanasia possible is Japan.
In Japan there have been two cases involving euthanasia, one about passive euthanasia and one involving active euthanasia. Even thou those precedence’s are not nationally legally binding, they have set a legal frame work for euthanasia in Japan.
If there is no other way to provide a relief for the patient, the pain is just too much to bear and there is no chance for the recovery the patient can be euthanized based on his or hers statement of will.
United States of America have chosen a third option. They had found an area between legal and illegal.
Only five states allow the active euthanasia, the rest of the states allow a choice. It is not called an euthanasia per se but the patient has a right to refuse a treatment and the doctor has to oblige with the patients decision even if it is leading undoubtedly to patients death.
If the patient is no longer capable of making his or hers decisions, in cases like brain death, it is possible for a legal surrogate to make the decision of removing the life support.
The question before us is whether it is really better for the patient to lie in a hospital and die slowly in pain than allowing the right to choose?
What difference in the end does it make for the world if a person, that in a short time is going to die anyway, dies peacefully surrounded by his or hers loved ones than dies slowly in pain surrounded by doctors and nurses trying to save his or hers life that simply cannot be saved?
Have your say!
Category ethics, euthanasia, health, human liberties, legislation, medicine | Tags:
I think that if it comes to Poland it’s the matter of faith. We live in a country where most people are catholic. Maybe some of them think that it’s incompatibile with their values. I guess there are people, who would love to end their lives, but they won’t do this because of the faith. The others, who are different religion or just atheists may feel a bit disadvantaged. The thing is that maybe there are some ways in which we can save someone? There are always two sides… On the reverse side we can spend more time together and in this meaning we’re not killing this person. But on the front side he or she feels pain and we are looking for death, sometimes for a very long time.
That’s a really big problem and very important question for nowadays Medicine that you have asked. What’s more I am afraid that it is not type of question that you can find a simple answer for. This topic is so variable between individuals, also between countries and different religions as you said before. We have to remember that people act in a very different ways facing theirs pain or other forms of suffering. There is also a problem of sanity. When someone is capable to take decision like that? Even psychiatrist would find this aspect controversial. These are problems that we have to be aware of. We have to take it under consideration especially when we are starting to think about any kind of legal regulations in this area. Maybe the only reasonable question that we should ask is “should we try to normalize this area at all?”
Euthanasia is a very controversial subject. Many aspects of it arise political and social conflitcts throughout the whole world. Countries like Poland are much restricted by religion and culture. The mentality of people is very hard to change. Though euthanasia may be a way to end one’s life in a peaceful, non-painful way, it still brings many moral questions. The fact that a person decides to end his or her own life is disturbing to many, who believe, that only a higher force should have the right to cease one’s existence. In my opinion, euthanasia is a step towards enlightenment, as a concious choice, it should be granted for anyone, who requests it.
When approaching this undeniably difficult topic (and I am positive that it is impossible for us to reach any definite conclusion), we should consider the twofoldness of this matter. We should distinguish a situation in which it is a one thing to dispute whether a patient him/herself should have a right to decide about his/her life from the situation in which the decision-making party is family or whoever related to this patient. It seems to as though the first situation is quite clear and we can all agree that every human being should have a right to end his/her misery. However, when it comes to other people deciding about ending someone else’s life no matter how close that person is, it is rather impossible to state any explicit conclusion. It is in human nature to seek other ways out than the most definite one as death because there is always hope for better. And hope is the key in this situation. But isn’t it just selfish to postpone inescapable just because we are too afraid to be responsible for this decision or is it maybe selfish because we ourselves see no other option?
Every life counts… And every man should live this life how its want. I think it shouldn’t be even a discussion over this problem. Every person have a right to choose how he or she want to spent ‚the life’ (for now we just know about one). Rest of sociaty can only help and create an ability for this person to follow his/her path. Unless we shouldn’t interupt. It all comes down to – my free will and my freedom. If i don’t hurt anybody else i should be able to follow my desires. Society can not dictate anyone how to die, this is a private matter and concern just that person. Unfortunately permiting euthanasia could lead to serious abuses. Sometimes it’s easier and cheaper to end the life of a person, than to fight for her recovery. During the Second World War was such an incident that German doctors in psychiatric homes have concluded a contract with funeral homes and paid them from all received corpses. This issue can scary and cause a debate, not first one.
Death is within holy jurisdiction – that is why I am against death penalty and euthanasia. There are countless examples of men who lived in pain supressed by the presence of their loved ones and of God. Suicide in among the deadly sins – and euthanasia is nothing more than suicide, or in some cases murder. We must distinguish between killing a man due to his pain and ceasing to artificially support the life of a body left by the soul, noone wakes up after brain death. Euthanasia is a product of the modern age, where we remove the unwanted element – that is euthanasia and abortion. Many people do not see the difference between a person and an object and feel that there is nothing wrong with killing an elder or an infant that is no longer wanted.
This is a quite controversial subject. Situation is quite similar as far as abortion is concerned. We just cannot sipmply say yes or no. There are so many diffrent factors which can influence our decision and yet we decide, the decision probalby will not be fully satisfying. Matters like that are really complicated and i think we shoul leave them our conscience.
I think euthanasia is a good thing. If human dignity isn’t enough for you, then think how much money countries can save if they stop serving expensive medical care for people who will not only die anyway but they also desperatly want that. I can’t really understand who some think that it should stay illegal. A matter of faith you say? OK, so if you think it’s wrong don’t do it but let others decide for themselves.
Euthanasia is a word which causes a huge dispute between its supporters and opponents. It’s a very controversial subject because it refers to the decision of life and death. In my opinion euthanasia should be legalized. Some people say that it is like removing the unwanted element – I totally disagree with this statement. Actually, people who are against euthanasia are in a good health condition and can’t even imagine the pain that a dying person suffers from. But when there is no hope for such person, when it’s known for sure that he will die within days and what else is left for him except for unimaginable suffering? Doesn’t he deserve to say goodbye, to hold his loved ones’ hands for the last time, to die peacefully surrounded by his family? I think that everyone should have free will in this area- if it’s against someone’s religion, that’s all right, they don’t have to choose this option. But what about the people whose beliefs don’t disagree with euthanasia?
Euthanasia is one of those controversial subjects where we can not see crearly only pros or only cons to be in 100% against or for it . I have my opinion on euthanasia, but I understand why other people may think differently. It has a lot in common with our religion but if we would take under consideration medical aspects and will of those ill people, maybe some people would understand that the religion should not be the only thing to take under consideration in this case. Everyone has right to decide about themselves even if it refers to their death.
Euthanasia is an insouble issue…Depending on the point of view, on the faith,on the culture and many other factors we can come into a conclusion that no one knows who is responsible for the life of the one another- that person itself, the doctor, the priest..? It’s not only judicial problem but also a moral dilemma- what is the better way of die ( if there is any)? I would like to know the answer for all those questions which are coming after contoversial topic of euthanasia but I really don’t feel entitled to decide on somebody’s life. In my opinion we should consider each case separately, think over all circumstances and then take the burden of resposibility for what we choose…
Euthanasia is a very controversial subject, such as abortion or legalising homosexuality. It is hard to agree 100% for or against it. I understand people who thinks it’s something wrong and can’t imagine it to be a common thing. Poland is a very religious country and that is why there are so many people that can’t see euthanasia as a resolution that could be used in our country. I think it all depends on the point of view. In my opinion, everyobody should have a right to decide of themselves and should be able to decide about their body. Why suffer when you can stop the pain? I agree it’s a very hard and controversial decission, but when someone’s suffering, ill and know it’s only a matter of time when he’ll pass away I think he should be able to decide what option he can choose. If a relgion is important to him, nobody is forcing him to do it. But why stopping other people?
What Christians said about euthanasia? They are against euthanasia. The arguments are usually based on the beliefs that life is given by God, and that human beings are made in God’s image. What’s more, all life is God-given. Furthermore, our birth and death are parts of human’s life which God has created for us. . In this connection we should respect it. No human has opportunity to take decision to kill somebody, even if that person wants to die. The physician as well as the patient will be held accountable by God, as the giver and taker of our life. The physician’s decisions regarding the life and death of a human being should be made with careful consideration of the wishes and beliefs of the patient or his/her advocates (including the family, the church, and the community). The physician’s decisions regarding the life and death of a human being should be made with careful consideration of the wishes and beliefs of the patient or his/her advocates (including the family, the church, and the community). The Christian physician should be obedient to biblical teaching and sensitive to the counsel of the Christian community. Furthermore all Christian physicians have the right and responsibility of to refuse to participate in modes of care that violate their moral beliefs or conscience.
I strongly believe everyone is the sole owner of his or her life and because of that has the right to decide whether wants to live or die. Therefore it should not be a public problem, but a very difficult personal and moral dilemma.
Let’s take Michael Schumacher for example. He was one of the best Formula 1 drivers of all the times, won many championships, became rich and had a loving family. After his accident the doctors were not giving him a chance. Only because spending insane amounts of money he hasn’t been proclaimed dead. Now the rumors say the is on a wheelchair and does not remember anything. To make it clear – I don’t want to judge Schumacher’s family and their choices and I don’t know his exact condition and if he maybe decided than in an event of a coma he is to be treated at all costs.
But I know that if I would one day found myself in Schumacher’s place I wouldn’t want treatment and I would be very angry at my family if the would done against my will.
Once again I believe everyone should have right to refuse treatment, and everyone should have right to end his or her own live, with help of others or without. It is of course wrong to force anyone to help committing suicide, but free will of the people in this matter should always be respected.
Well…euthanasia is surely a controversial matter, but one thing is certain, everyone has a right to make a choice if he wants to live or not. In my view, it’ s better to end the life rather than lying in the hospital and dying slowly in pain surrounded by doctors and nurses trying to save his or her life that simply cannot be saved. It makes no sense.
Euthanasia is very controversial topic nowadays. I think that people have different opinion about that, because it depends on “which side you are”. If you are the one who is hurting and you’re slowly dying, all you want to do is die and don’t feel the pain anymore. You see your relatives who want to help you, but they don’t even know how. On the other hand- if you love someone who is dying, it breaks your heart and all you want for this person is to kill the pain.
But is euthanasia only for those who are dying? No! In some countries you can kill yourself legally when there is something that you can’t accept in yourself. For example if you don’t have a leg and you are so frustrated about it, you can make an euthanasia treatment. That is really not fair. There are psychologist who can help with this kind of problems. Death is not the only way to survive…
This second is something I can’t understand and I’m opposed to.
In my opinion, if we have a right to live in our Constitution, we should have a right to end our living as well. Of course we have to help people who suffer from depression, mental illness or other diseases before we suggest euthanasia. There is an example in Belgium, in which a 24 years old woman wants to end her life because of depression. She is a healthy girl, she gets everything she needs, she has parents who try to help her. But she just doesn’t want to live, living is not for her. The Economist produced a documentary interview “24 and Ready to die” with her a few years ago. She got a green light from doctors to die. Just a few minutes before the last breathe she decided to stay alive. This shows how people really can’t handle problems, and firstly we have to help those people. Maybe, like in this case, the person will live, and not commit a suicide alone.
I strongly believe that everyone has inalienable right to decide about his or her own life. Therefore, people’s personal beliefs should not affect other’s lives, especially when it comes to such a difficult moral dilemma as euthanasia. People that are in a good health condition can only imagine the situation of choosing life over death and nobody has a right to judge others for their choices, to say nothing of deciding for them.
Dying, deadly diseases, euthanasia – one of more controversial and also delicate matters. Most of us base our opinions on our experience. Delicacy of this issue lets emotions affect on us. However we should remember that we can’t decide for people who found themselves in probably the most difficult situation in their lives. I know that each person has his own history. We should give them the opportunity to choose.
My point of view on euthanasia is not much different than that of the text’s author. As I’m against abortion (besides cases listed by the Polish law), so I’m against euthanasia in a sense of killing yourself because of boredom or whim. There always has been something like “nature’s rules” and for some people – extraterrestrial principles. But I fully support euthanasia in cases of long, painful sickness, when a person is somehow capable of own’s decision (not in a brain death scenario). Each case would have to be carefully examined from a legal and medical point of view. But it should be available, as everyone deserves to live and die in dignity.
Euthanasia is the termination of a very sick person to relieve them from their suffering. Just from that definition, you can probably tell why it is a controversial topic. It can be understood as assisted suicide and that is why it is not supported by a lot of people around the world. Of course, traditions, family and religion are often a decisive factor in making such decisions. It would be nice however, to let the sufferer have their last word in the matter. We come to this world as vibrational beings, exploring life and contrast, surrounded by others who often have different opinions which almost always come from a selfish point of view. I think, it is important that people care that euthanasia should be legalized, because many of these patients are left to suffer endless pain. No one is able to realize the suffering that they are going through, so they see no point in the terminally ill taking their life. If euthanasia were to be legalized the terminally ill will feel more at ease, because they don’t have to worry about the pain and their family suffering with them along the way.
If you are going to leave this planet and make a transition to the other side, you should be able to do so with dignity and ease.
Euthanasia is a really questionable matter. I often have rather extreme opinions on ethical problems but when it comes to euthanasia I’m really careful. I realize that there are often situations when the patient can’t be rescued and keeping him alive is only making them harm. I think that when he’s conscious and able to make decisions, he should have the possibility to choose. The problem comes when the patient isn’t able to make this decision. Who should do it for them? Their family? The doctor? It’s a very difficult decision for a family member to let their relative die. In my opinion, it’s one of the most difficult issues when it comes to ethics.