Euthanasia yes or no

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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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Euthanasia

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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Euthanasia

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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Euthanasia

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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Euthanasia

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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Euthanasia

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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Euthanasia

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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Euthanasia

V. That have survived from a vegetative state
A. Jan Grzebsk

VI. Conclusion

A. Possible solution to this dispute

Euthanasia yes or no

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