Euthanasia

“Euthanasia” means “Act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from incurable and distressing disease” (“Euthanasia,” Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). I would like to do my project on euthanasia, I am choosing to write about this topic because it is a very controversial topic today in modern medicine and has been for years. Not only is it controversial within modern medicine itself, but is controversial within church societies and individuals as well. Everyone has their different opinion on this subject but I believe that it is up to the individual and the individuals family to choose whether or not they want to euthanize their loved one. If someone is terminally ill and dying a slow painful death, do they not have the right to choose whether or not they want to be euthanized ' It has been stated in The New York Times that, “ Studies have shown that when doctors don’t know a patient’s wishes, they are inclined to use every possible procedure and medication to try to postpone the inevitable. More than often not, this shortens patients’ lives and prolongs bereavement for the survivors” ( Brody, E. Jane. “Keep Your Voice, Even at the End of Life.” The New York Times 17 January 2011: 53-56). Euthanasia brings about many questions and thoughts from many people, but I think that Euthanasia should be legal, and an option for all. I think it should be legal because there is no real need to keep someone alive if they are on the brink of dying. Euthanasia comes about in a variety of different means, there is voluntary euthanasia where the patient gives consent to being euthanized, there is non-voluntary euthanasia where the consent of the patient is unavailable, and finally there is involuntary euthanasia where the euthanasia is conducted against the patients will. Euthanasia has been legalized in some states within the U.S. including Washington, Oregon and Montana. “ In 2007, some 46 people committed suicide in Oregon under the law” (Pickert, Kate. “Assisted Suicide.” Time Magazine 3 March 2009: 59-60). Along with that information it has been known that “ At least 36 terminally ill people died last year after taking lethal medication prescribed by doctors under Washington State’s new physician-assisted suicide law” (Yardley, William. ” Reports Find 36 died Under Assisted Suicide Law.” The New York Times 4 March 2010: 1-3). As I continue to research this subject I will first look on Proquest to see if there are any articles that can help me further my thoughts and inform me more about how the process of euthanasia works. I will also look for articles that have been written by doctors or pertain to information released by hospitals around the world. This will help me further my knowledge and will also make my paper have reliable sources. I will also look for questionnaires and surveys on the internet. This will help me see peoples different views and opinions on the subject. While I continue to get deeper into the subject of euthanasia I hope my research will help me find if euthanasia will become more of a open option for people. I hope to find that hospitals will give the option for people who are terminally ill and are in pain. I don’t think euthanasia is the best thing for people and I hope that it does not become something people will use the wrong way. I also hope to find stories where euthanasia had a positive impact on a situation and to find reasons why euthanasia should be accepted in certain situations and circumstances. I do not plan to do any interviews with people unless I am interviewing people for their personal opinion. If I were to survey people and they began to give me their opinion on it though, it may start to discredit my information and make my paper more confusing as to what I am trying to say. So is euthanasia murder, or is it giving someone who is in pain and dying a more peaceful way to end their life ' This question is what I hope I will be able to answer by the end of my research.