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Euthanasia
Euthanasia yes or no
Ángel Luis Mercado

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Euthanasia
Table of Content
Title Page…………………………………………………………………… 1
Information………………………………………………………………… 3 - 7
Introduction ……………………………………………………………….. 3
Definitions………………………………………………………………… 3
Objective of Euthanasia………………………………………………….. 3-4
Religions Aspects…………………………………………………………. 4 - 5
Case of Euthanasia………………………………………………………… 5 -6
Case that have survived from a vegetative state…………………………... 6 -7
Conclusion………………………………………………………………… 7
References………………………………………………………………… 8
Outline……………………………………………………………………. 9 -10

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Euthanasia
Euthanasia Yes or No
The human being can say when and how to die ... Today the issue of euthanasia
has caught more acceptances among the population. This is a topic that has caused much
controversy over time. What is euthanasia? The word euthanasia comes from the Greek
and etymologically means "good death". In ancient Greco-Roman meaning was "Felici
vel honesta norte mori” which means "die a happy death and honest." In the dictionary of
the “Real Academia Española” the word euthanasia is defined as action or omission to
avoid suffering for terminally ill patients, accelerates his death with his consent or
without it. There are opposing views on family and society because it clashes with
euthanasia ethical, moral and religious. Some people think they have total and absolute
right over their lives. Have the right man to have the power to decide when to end his
life. This action is reflected when people face serious health problems that prevent you
from living the life they had in the past. Other people think that the right to life could not
be waived by permission of inducing a voluntary or involuntary death. Then, legalized
euthanasia would have a paradoxical effect on family member and friends.
The aim of euthanasia is obviously the end of life decision whether a patient or
another person. To better understand the issue of euthanasia is necessary to know the
different types of euthanasia there, because it has different ways of death. Direct
euthanasia is when the actions performed on the patient intended to cause death. In this
case there are two subtypes of euthanasia: active and passive. In active euthanasia causes
death of the patient by administering lethal drugs. While passive euthanasia is to let the

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death occur in a natural way to postpone or accelerate without death is caused by default.
In these cases, you disconnect the machines that keep the patient alive, do not feed or
give medications needed. Indirect euthanasia is when the doctor intends to relieve the
patient from his suffering. Voluntary euthanasia is when a person with physical and
mental capabilities to ask to help him die. Finally there is the non-voluntary euthanasia in
this situation can occur in two ways. One way is when the individual does not possess
physical and mental capabilities to ask the doctor to help him to die, but previously said it
was their will. Another way is when an individual does not possess the physical and
mental abilities to ask the doctor to help you die or to oppose, is subjected to euthanasia
without knowing what would have been his will.
It is difficult to decide whether one should let die or even cause death to a person
only to comply with a request. Patients taking the decision to have performed euthanasia
do so because patients taking this decision do not want to suffer a long illness or simply
do not want to be a burden to others. On the other hand, are individuals or families who
have contradictory thoughts. Would wish to meet your loved one's wish, but they do not
agree with that decision. There are many factors ethical, moral and spiritual that can
influence this decision. Almost all religions are Catholic, Christians or Protestants
indicate that the only one who has the right of giving and taking away life is God. To
confirm that God is who gives and takes away life, you can read the Ten Commandments
that God gave to Moses. One of the commandments is "Thou shall love thy God above
all things and your neighbor as yourself," (Bible: Deuteronomy chapter 5). Another

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commandment that says, "Thou shall not kill,” (Bible: Deuteronomy chapter 5). If
euthanasia were legalized cases increase in turn increasing conflicts between the patient's
families. On one hand, we would have laws that support and endorse the decision of the
patient or physician, while other family members oppose. Being legal family members
that are against it can do little about it. This issue is so controversial that there are
countries like Australia that tested the law on euthanasia and only lasted two years
because the law was removed.
By legalizing euthanasia it could bring other changes. Doctors who swear to
safeguard the health of the patient and do what is in their power to save lives now would
be different. Yes, because doctors have also decided to continue saving the life of the
patient or decide to let it die. In other words, it helps to improve health, but you also can
cause death and the law protects them, this sounds paradoxical.
There is one case which was published throughout both print and television and
was the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. She practiced passive euthanasia. Terri's
husband wanted to take away the machines that kept her alive to die. While their parents
opposed this decision and went to court. Unfortunately, the court was in favor of the
petition of the husband and took her off the machines. To the surprise of family and
friends Terri continued alive after disconnecting the machines for several years. Then the
husband asked in court to stop feeding so she can die. His parents came to oppose but the
court again favored the husband and stopped giving him food and water. She was dying
slowly from dehydration and lack of food. This sounds cruel, but it was real. For the

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parents it was horrible. This is also the case of Dr. Harold Shipman, known as the doctor
of death. In a thorough survey by the University of Leicester found that Dr. Shipman
killed about 297 patients. Currently, Dr. Shipman is serving a life sentence for 15 deaths
that were tested, but the relatives of some victims continue to push the Crown
Prosecution Service to find out if their loved ones were killed. By legalizing euthanasia
assure us that cases like that of Dr. Shipman occurrence or otherwise of these cases
would increase. They think that legalizing euthanasia will all be better, but there is
nothing to guarantee it. It is now that it is illegal and makes it difficult to prove to the
courts who have committed murder with the excuse that it was requested euthanasia. In
England a nurse is under investigation for causing the deaths of 18 children. In the case
of Brazil is Izidoro Edson, who is suspected of killing 131 patients in serious condition.
In this case he confessed to receiving commission from the funeral and has acted for
money. This seems incredible, but true. You can imagine the controversy it would cause
if euthanasia is legalized.
How human beings can be completely sure that you are taking the right decision?
There are cases where people have been bedridden for many years in a vegetative state
and coma, but with medical and technological advances have regained their health. One
such example is the case Jan Grzebski, 65 years ago; he fell into a coma after being hit by
a train in 1988. The doctors did not give much time to live. This could be a case to be
euthanized, but his wife and doctor did not forsake him. Mr. Grzebski was 19 long years
in this vegetative state. Today, he regained his health and she can meet her eleven

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grandchildren. What would happen if for some reason he had practiced euthanasia, either
by his request, a doctor or a family? Surely it would have eliminated the chance of life
that God had for him.
Certainly this is a controversial issue and legalizing it will even enter the
paradoxical effect of families or friends. People do not trust their doctors because both
the patient and physician relationship would be affected. A doctor is to save lives not to
kill. Legalized euthanasia should not have to let things happen naturally, but taking steps
to care for the health of every human being. Neither the judges nor the family, even
doctors can know what God has drawn for each of us. We see this in the case of Mr. Jan
Grzebski. This is a very delicate issue and always really causes paradoxical effect in
family and friends.

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References
Brink, Susan.(1996, January 21). The Right to Die. El Nuevo Día, (pp.7-8).
Cumbre Dictionary. (2005). Euthanasia. (3rd ed.) Spain: Everest Publishing.
Chachere, Vickie. (2005, March 3). Terri Schiavo Dies, but Debate Lives On. The
Associated Press. Retrieved, December 7, 2011 from http:www.aceb.org/terry.htm.
Denis Ralling and Vicki Knight. (1999). The Circle of Live. (8th ed.) USA:Brooks/Cole
Publishing Company.
General Concepts about a Dignified Death and Euthanasia. (n.d.). Euthanasia. Retrieved,
December 8, 2011 from http://www.muertedigna.org/textos/eutan.htm.
Matthew Day in Warsaw. (2007, June 4). Man as the Word Wakes up after 19 Years.
Telegraph, Retrieved, December 3, 2011 from http://thelegraph.co.uk.
REA Dictionary. (twenty-second ed.). Euthanasia. Retrieved, December 2, 2011`from
http://www. Rea.es/raehtml.
Torr, James D. (1994). Euthanasia Opposing Viewpoints. California: Greenhaven Press,
Inc.
Wilkes, Paul (1997, January 12). El Derecho de Morir. El Nuevo Día, (pp.59-63).

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Outline
I. Introduction
A. Definitions
B. Controversy
II. Objective of euthanasia
A. Objective
B. Types of euthanasia
1. Direct euthanasia
a) Active
b) Passive
2. Indirect euthanasia
3. Voluntary euthanasia
4. Non-voluntary euthanasia
III. Legal and religious aspects
A. Religious sectors are saying
B. Cases Bible tell us
IV. Cases of euthanasia
A. Terri Schindler-Schiavo
B. Dr. Shipman
C. Nurse
D. Edson Izidoro

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V. That have survived from a vegetative state
A. Jan Grzebsk
VI. Conclusion
A. Possible solution to this dispute