Aranas 1

Liam Aranas

Professor Moore

English 1301

12 October 2017

The Forbidden Practice

In past couple of years, the practice of euthanasia has been a hot seat question that

medical professionals debate to this day. Euthanasia is the practice of physician assisted suicide

allowing for patients to have the choice in whether they continue living or die. However,

euthanasia is only an option to patients with incurable and painful diseases and those in a coma

that they may never wake up from. Euthanasia is a practice that is only legal in Switzerland,

Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and two American states (Washington and Oregon).

Euthanasias morality has become a significant issue for those involved with bioethics due to the

differing moral standpoints that medical professionals hold.

Firstly, the main concern of euthanasia is the differing moral stand points. As medical

professional most would argue that the main objective of a nurse or doctor is to try and make the

condition of the patient significantly better no matter the condition. However, in terms of

euthanasia we see two sides of a coin. Two arguments that present themselves for both sides are

that a patient is suffering an incurable and painful disease and their condition would only be

bettered through the peaceful means of doctor assisted suicide. However, the other side of the

coin is that some may see death as the exact opposite of making the patients condition better and

that it goes completely against the whole purpose of a healthcare provider. These people are also

concerned about what can be considered incurable and painful as there are people who request

doctor assisted suicide with disorders such as extreme depression (Lu). Questioning what is
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deemed as ethical in terms of preforming euthanasia. Through euthanasias legalization we see

that is was changed significantly. the Dutch definition of euthanasia (Saad) allows for the

conscious and competent patients only; [to determine] that ceasing futile treatment is not

euthanasia (Saad) This allowed for a compromise that allowed for certain situations to proceed

with euthanasia.

Furthermore, we have the argument that is involved more with politics. Originally

senators proposed decriminalizing euthanasia, including in cases of psychological suffering, and

for non-terminally ill patients (Saad) Though this would not have been made possible as quickly

if there were more Christian Democrats after June 1999 (Saad). However, it was still argued

that a stricter procedure concerning patients who are not terminally ill (Saad) be present to

ensure that even if the bill concerning euthanasia was passed we would take extra precautions

with these new patients that were deemed able to participate in euthanasia. The irony in the

situation is that though euthanasia was permitted The Belgian Act does not permit assisted

suicide. (Saad) Through the course of the argument assisted suicide became distorted in

parliamentary debate. In the minds of many it meant simply killing someone at their request

with no additional conditions, (Saad) Post this bill we also had the argument of the age that can

choose the option of physician assisted suicide. Previously it was agreed that you must be at least

the 18 to choose this option. However, the amendment was changed to say, the patient has

attained the age of majority or is an emancipated minor, who is competent or is still a minor who

is capable of judgment, and is conscious at the time of making the request (Saad). Other

political issues include organ procurement. However, it was an opt-out opt-in situation and

between 2005 and 2007, only four patients who underwent euthanasia also expressed a wish to

donate their organs (Saad).

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Furthermore, we see the argument briefly presented in the moral argument of who is

considered eligible for euthanasia. As discussed it is seen that those who have psychological

suffering, and for [those who are] non-terminally ill patients (Saad) can ask for the option of

physician assisted suicide. This causes a huge moral situation that prevents euthanasia to become

legal all around the world. As many believe that suicide is clearly an example of the intentional

killing of a human person. (Lu) and is an unacceptable practice. However, how does one deem

the right to kill or not kill a patient. If we allow disorders such as extreme depression to consider

euthanasia what else would be considered ethical and moral. The obvious place to start is with

the distinctive fact that in suicide the same person is both killer and killed. (Lu). The question

that stands is if this justifies the killing. An argument that is also made about euthanasia is that

doctor-assisted suicide simply is an example of intentional killing (Lu) and though there are

many things that may morally bother people we must question whether society finds this to be

true or false. Some parts of the world have already found this to be false and has gone through

with it. Through its legalization it has been deemed justified, but many will still strongly stand

against the procedure of euthanasia.

In conclusion, euthanasia is a topic that will be controversial for the times to come as it is

human nature to find sympathy in those who suffer, and it is also human nature to think about

moral and ethical consequences that may proceed with allowing such an act. Through the

decisions of time we will see whether society changes its ways to become more accepting to

euthanasia or will push it backwards and away.

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Work Cited

Saad, Toni C. "Euthanasia in Belgium: Legal, Historical and Political Review." Issues in Law &

Medicine, vol. 32, no. 2, Fall2017, pp. 183-204. EBSCOhost,

libproxy.uhcl.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth

&AN=125384596&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Lu, Mathew. "On the Moral Wrongness of Suicide: Self-Murder and Euthanasia." Human Life

Review, vol. 43, no. 3, Summer2017, p. 58. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=125447877&site=ehost-live.