Euthanasia can be broken down into three categories and these categories are voluntary euthanasia (where euthanasia is performed with the patient's consent), non-voluntary euthanasia (where the patient is unable to give their informed consent) and Involuntary euthanasia (which performed on a patient against their will). In Australia, euthanasia is often seen as an ethical, practical, historical and religious issue. While some people may agree that voluntary euthanasia will be the start of a slippery slope meaning that voluntary euthanasia could lead to involuntary euthanasia and the killing of people who are thought to be undesirable. Others may agree that everyone has a right to a good death which means that a good death must not be denied …show more content…
While some people may believe that we should respect the wishes of individuals facing ongoing pain and suffering for a terminal illness, and provide the choice of a dignified, pain-free death. This is because dying with dignity means that the someone suffering from a terminal illness should be allowed the choice to end their life naturally and comfortably, rather than live a life in pain and that is prolonged by machines. Dr. Rodney Syme, who is the vice president of dying with dignity Victoria, stated that: "The simple fact is for many people dying is a very painful and distressing experience, causing a lot of suffering." This quote shows that for many people dying is very painful and distressing experience which causes the person to suffer from physical and mental effects. This quote shows that is euthanasia was legal it wouldn’t cause the person to suffer from the physical and mental effects that death has caused on a person. Furthermore, Dr. Rodney Syme stated that: "A sense of being a burden to other people is huge for many of these people. They don't want to consume the lives of people they love and that tends to happen because they need a great deal of care." This quote shows that if euthanasia was legal it would give the person a sense of control meaning that they could choose voluntary euthanasia so that they wouldn’t have to burden the people they love by forcing them to give up their job to become the person full-time carer. Nikki Gemmell, who is an Australian author, stated that: "Maybe you want to tell your family your plans to take your life to save them from all the trauma and the shock. But if you do implicate them, they can be charged. So we condemn these people who want to die, to this bleak and lonely death without anyone around them." This quote shows that if euthanasia was