I believe that every person should have the right to live or die. This goes into the legality of suicide which is illegal but never prosecuted. Why is it that a failed attempt of suicide is not is prosecuted and a successful act of euthanasia is?
Everyone deserves the freedom and power to control their destiny. Not everyone has an easy death. Some terminal pain cannot be controlled even with the best of care and strongest drugs that do have their own unpleasant side effects. These fatal illnesses have other distressing symptoms such as loss of mobility and sickness.
Pain is not the only issue, quality of life is as well. Most people would like to spend the last moments of their life in a dignified way and to die in a similar way. Having the right to control their life and death gives dignity to their suffering.
People have the right to commit suicide without prosecution if they fail. This is because it is an individual act against them whereas euthanasia is not. Euthanasia is someone else doing the killing for you.
Many people may argue that a miraculous recovery is possible and this has happened in the past. However euthanasia is only needed for those whose pain is not and will never be relieved with any form of care and whose pain and lack of dignity is unbearable. Would life not be intolerable for a person with a condition that leaves the person mentally alert but gradually shuts down all of their other functions, skills of communicating? I believe these people’s family or legal representatives should have the choice and if the decision can be made by them then the option should be available.
If there was to be a law to allow a person to help some one die like this, there would have to be strict rules, which involved the patient having knowledge of the whole process making sure that they are not forced into it and they are mentally able to make the decision.
Euthanasia happens all the time. Some times it is publicised such as the Diane Pretty case and sometimes it happens secretly. Many people including me want to see a change in the law.
A larger trauma than having to come to terms with the deceased loved one is to watch that person suffer helplessly with no chance of easing their pain. When the person finally dies their good memories are replaced of those when the person was in torturous and dignity less state. When they are in agony and are miserable.
Euthanasia is presently against the law. It is simply defined as murder. Many people believe this should be changed. If I was faced with a terminally ill family member such as a parent, brother or sister, who was in a great deal of pain and wanted to die. I would follow their wishes immediately as I would not want them to suffer.
If a pet is dying and was in pain most people would take them to the vet to be put down. Human life is more important and should not be dealt with in a different way, in more consideration. In my view it is similar to how one would treat a pet with the addition of the person’s consent being possibly available. The pet is allowed to die without much pain but with great dignity, why can’t a humans? Which is better this or allowing someone suffer a prolonged and painful life?
When the government open up their eyes to euthanasia as a dignified and painless option to die for those who cannot do it themselves there will be a lot of debate. I hope what I have said is taken into consideration and hopefully one day the laws on euthanasia will be changed.
Yours sincerely
Paul Archer
