Cadence Giazzon

English 1102
Professor Hughes
2nd Mar. 2016
The Quality of Life
Suffering is one of the most arduous, disheartening, and painful things to witness and
experience firsthand. When a loved one reaches the point of extreme suffering we are forced to
make difficult decisions regarding their health. We are all fighting for our lives in one way or
another, but what if it were to become too much and we no longer wanted to continue our battle.
If our battle were to become too difficult, past the point of a chance for recovery, should we have
the option to give up? Or should we be forced to continue this suffering until it takes its greatest
toll on our body. Many would argue that if a person is given the right care, and proper hospitality
there should be no reason why they are unable to have a dignified, pain-free, naturally occurring
death. On the contrary, if medics cannot prevent suffering then there is no reason any person
should ever feel that they are suffering to a point of mental or physical intolerance, and they
should be given the option to have euthanasia, or an assisted suicide.
There are many arguments as to whether euthanasia should be legalized, one of the most
controversial being a violation of medical ethics. There seems to be a fear that if we were to
legalize the use of euthanasia that doctors will no longer have a strong relationship with their
patients, and they will lack with humanity and compassion with terminally ill patients. With an
easier option available, it is understandable to believe that doctors will put fourth less effort in
seeking cures for patients. Some may even suggest that doctors will no longer take responsibility

for high complexity, and difficult cases, and they would rather just take the easy way out. As
these statements may all be true, they are also present in todays medical society whether we like
it or not. As patients we must learn to trust those who have taken a pledge to do everything they
can to help us in our times of need, and we must believe in the good of our doctors. Obviously
euthanasia is no treatment, but rather a more sound option for patients who are done suffering.
This final option will only be granted upon request and if a patient requests further treatment that
will also be granted in turn.
Another fear is that patients who are unable to give consent for their own care will be
taken advantage of in these kinds of situations, and their families will seek the easier option,
instead of continuing to fight for their loved ones life. Again, this is an issue that is even present
in our current medical field, and as sad and disturbing as these situations are they are
unpreventable. One final stance on the medial ethics side of this argument is that patients will be
very quick to take this route once they hear the word terminal, and patients will no longer feel
the need to fight. All doctors want their patients to live, and obviously it is very difficult and
devastating to share this kind of news with them, but all patients have an option to fight. Patients
are allowed to refuse treatment, in fact no one ever even has to enter a hospital in their entire life.
Euthanasia is an option, a choice, and not the only route doctors will be offering if it becomes
legalized. It is up to the patient to decide if their life is worth living, and it is their own ethical
opinion that will decide their route of life. Research will continue to be done, new treatments will
still be developed, and the medical field will continue to rapidly grow just as it has done in the
past decades.
Along with medical ethics, there is also discussion on the religious viewpoint of this
matter. In almost every religion one of the most sacred things is the gift of life, given from God.

Obviously taking our own lives would then be viewed as a very big mistake, and in multiple
religions such as Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faiths it would be considered a tremendous sin.
These religions also claim that, but is this is not relevant in medical practice. Religion cannot
play a factor in a hospitals, as they are public practices. This is simply just a judicial factor of
church vs state, therefore giving it no side in a public system.
The final statement in this all is that euthanasia is already a widespread practice. The sad
truth of it all is that euthanasia is already occurring in our society, it just hasnt been legalized.
Legalizing this practice will ensure regulation and safety of the process itself. By regulation the
process we can insure that it is done in the most painless way possible and it gives the patients
what they want.
There are many opposing viewpoints as to why euthanasia should be legalized but in the
long term there really will not be much difference occurring in our medical practices. Doctors
will continue to do their jobs to the best of their ability, and patients will continue to make their
own decisions in regards to their health and life. In legalizing this process it will only become
safer, and regulated which is better for the medical society as a whole.

Works Cited
Marteau, Jean. "The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses." The ICN CODE OF ETHICS FOR
NURSES (n.d.): n. pag. US National Library of Medicine. US Government. Web.
"What Is Palliative Care?" Palliative Care. American Academy of Hospice and
Palliative Medicine, 20 Oct. 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.

"CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry." CARM - The Christian
Apologetics & Research Ministry. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
Jauhar, Sandeep. "Giving Doctors Grades." The New York Times. The New York
Times, 21 July 2015. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.