Our democracy should not legalize active voluntary, active nonvoluntary euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide, but made exceptional in some extreme cases. Euthanasia is the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from a terminal illness, disability, or coma. Euthanasia has sparked a strong debate in society, and continues to be strongly controversial on whether it should be practiced at all. Euthanasia attacks the basis of many individual’s ethical beliefs and causes many to fear that how individuals view life will deteriorate in value. However, many find no hope in continuing to live when diagnosed with terminal illnesses and disabilities that require intensive care and treatment, and turn to physicians for mercy. The debate also …show more content…
However, if euthanasia is legalized, that admiration along with the connection a doctor and a patient have will be lost. Patricia OConnell claims “people will become more skeptical of doctors, and may be afraid to go to one” if euthanasia is legalized (OConnell). Euthanasia will also cause guilt and pain to family members. Rebecca Badger committed suicide when she found out her daughter’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis was not shown in her autopsy after she had chosen euthanasia (Impact). There are many similar cases in which there was a misdiagnosis which caused patients to choose euthanasia. Physicians also have a strong opinion on the use of euthanasia. Many disagree with legalizing euthanasia, so making it legal will cause a strong debate among physicians. Questions will be raised on the limits of professional obligations of doctors and nurses. In Molly Sullivan’s Ethics Of Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia, she makes the claim that nurses“ have a right to conscientious objection; no nurse who feels an ethical or religious conflict should feel pressured to clinically participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide” (Sullivan). If doctors or physicians believe that euthanasia is against their beliefs, then it should not be expected of them to assist in it. Doctors have made many marvellous advances in medicine to help lengthen human …show more content…
With the legalization of euthanasia, you are going against the principles of medicine, and giving the OK to quit on life. You are also taking away the mystery of life and medicine as well. Euthanasia will affect future generations in particular future physicians and the way that medicine is practiced (Somerville). Euthanasia gives permission to patients to take the easy way out, and to not continue the fight. It will also have a major impact on the world of medicine, and change the principles that is built into it. By changing the basis of medicine, it will affect the doctors of the future and teach them that euthanasia is part of the practice of medicine, and is sometimes the best