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Why Is Euthanasia Ethically Wrong

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General Overview Euthanasia, defined as “directly or indirectly bringing about the death of another person for that person’s sake.” (Vaughn, 2013, p.292) is often associated with a person that is terminally ill. Euthanasia is a highly controversial topic for obvious reasons, we are dealing with life or death. However, much of the controversy stems from how society views death. Death is inevitable, it is part of the circle of life that we will all have to deal with at one point in our lives. The word euthanasia has Greek origins meaning “easy death” (Vaughn, 2013, p292) it is not uncommon for terminally ill patients to face pain, suffering or indignity as death nears. Active euthanasia should be morally justified for patients who wish to be remembered in a dignified way, without enduring pain and suffering. Voluntary active euthanasia occurs when a person expresses the desire to have their life ended and another person carries out the act. Another form of euthanasia, we should clarify is passive euthanasia, this is when life sustaining measures are terminated at the patients’ request. Such as the …show more content…

Consequently, with longer life expectancy, come a new set of problems where lives change. Recovery from illnesses may leave lasting complications that some people would rather not face: amputations, feeding tubes, oxygen, and continuous pain medication are just a few to name. Patients currently have the right to set limits on their care by having advance directives, limits on what they want medical staff to do, or not do in the event that they are incapacitated or in an emergency situation, this is their choice. I see little distinguishable differences between these choices and choosing to end one’s life before a terminal illness takes away quality or dignity. People have the right to self-determination, even if it is not morally acceptable for you

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