Argumentative Essay On Euthanasia

2485 Words10 Pages
“I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.” The intent of a doctor is one that should be pure and selfless, one that should prolong the life of a patient, not terminate it. In the noble profession of medicine, there have been great controversies that have left one world split into two. Euthanasia, by definition, is the “painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.” The practice of assisting someone to commit suicide is unethical and inhumane due to the fact that a terminally ill patient is not in the right state of mind to make profound medical decisions. Euthanasia is a practice that is legal in most countries, but remains illegal in the majority of states in the U.S. The greatest conflict arising in the United States is whether to make euthanasia legal or illegal across the country. Currently there are six states in the U.S. where euthanasia is completely legal; California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Montana. It is also legal in Washington D.C. and in Montana; it is only legal via a court decision. Euthanasia is essentially a practice where a terminally ill patient is able to terminate their life early