Euthanasia is defined as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease. Euthanasia is a hotly debated topic due to the legal and moral questions surrounding assisted suicide. While euthanasia is illegal in many countries, there are countries around the world that allow it, such as Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, and more. While euthanasia is only legal in 5 US states, those being New Mexico, Oregon, Montana, Vermont and Washington, many believe that that euthanasia should be legal to assist the terminal patients in pain.
Bodily Autonomy
One of the arguments used in support of euthanasia is that people have the right to choose whether or not they die, as it comes with their rights to bodily autonomy. Proponents of this argument state that everyone has the right to control what happens to their body and what happens in their life. They believe that people get to chose what they do, how they live, and what type of medical care they receive, including the medical care they need to end their own lives. People already have the right to refuse extraordinary medical care to save their lives, and can choose to be removed or have others removed from potentially life-saving equipment, such as ventilators. Having a DNR, or a Do Not Resuscitate order, gives the patients the right to die, so supporters say the same right should be afforded to euthanasia. If a competent patient with a painful, end-stage disease and no foreseeable recovery possibilities decides that they’d rather not live at all, it is within their rights to do so.
More Harm than Good
Another argument that is widely used in the fight to legalize euthanasia is that if a patient is in pain continuously due to an incurable disease, as is the prerequisite of euthanasia, then keeping them alive does more harm than good, as the patients suffering is not helped, but rather extended. Sometimes the only way to actually help a patient is by ending their pain, which can be achieved through euthanasia. Others would argue that because the doctor is helping the patient end their life, it violates the Hippocratic oath, which is a promise that doctors make to “do no harm”. The supports of euthanasia counter that idea, by claiming that extending patient suffering doesn’t follow the Hippocratic oath. They claim assisted suicide may actually be the best method of helping end the pain of the patient, and it follows rather than violates that oath, because by ending the patient’s pain the doctor reduces the harm to the patient.
The Opponent Argument
Many argue against euthanasia becoming widely practiced and legal because it could become the first option that insurers or doctors go to as a treatment for people with disabilities, or people with diseases that are costly to treat. While this concern is legitimate, according to expert opinions on ProCon.org, there has been no evidence that this would occur in the places where euthanasia is currently allowed, such as Oregon, one of the 5 previously mentioned US states that allow euthanasia. Oregon has shown no data to suggest that euthanasia has become the first response of physicians or insurances, as euthanasia can and should only be used on terminal cases with no alternative options of treatment.
Finally, another argument made by those who oppose euthanasia is that no one, not even doctors, should have to aid someone in taking their own life. This argument is completely legitimate, and doctors should never be forced to euthanize any patient, however, this does not mean that euthanasia shouldn’t be allowed. While doctors can’t be forced to help a patient end their life, there may be many doctors who feel that euthanasia is ending the patient’s suffering, as it’s intended to do, and therefore may willingly assist the patient. The reluctance of some doctors should not dictate the options of the patients. Telling patients that they have to continue to live and suffer, only because some doctors find it immoral and don’t wish to help, is unjust and unfair to those who are forced to suffer every day as a result, especially when there may be other doctors willing to help them die peacefully.
Euthanasia will continue to be a controversial topic as opinions of morality and the roles of doctors will never entirely be in consensus, but many seem to be in support of it. The argument in support of euthanasia can be summed up in the statement: forcing someone to continue living a life that causes them nothing but pain and suffering, a life which has an inevitable and likely nearby death is more immoral than abiding by someone’s wishes and helping them find peace.
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