A patient may request euthanasia because they are afraid they may experience degeneration, pointless suffering and the ability to control their life. For this reason doctors should be able to provide their patients a safe way out and enable them to enjoy their last days. A patient need not suffer months of agony or live a life they no longer wish to live. Humans have a very strong will to live and will tolerate an exceedingly meagre quality of life before giving up. When a terminally ill patient has decided they are ready to pass away, we should respect this decision and assist them. To quote Phillip Nitschke, an advocate for voluntary euthanasia, ‘I don’t want people telling me when my quality of life is so poor – or so good whatever – I don’t want anyone telling me that I have to keep on going. I will make that decision, thanks very much. I believe it’s an absolutely vital and important decision that an individual has.’
It is imperative that euthanasia be legalised in order to keep an eye on doctors who already practise it. The commonplace of euthanasia is inevitable; growing numbers of doctors will continue to perform euthanasia secretly. A survey conducted by The Centre of Bioethics at Monash University indicates that 30% of doctor’s break the law by helping ill patients to die. There are many doctors who are ready to risk a severe penalty in order to assist patients in their wish to pass away, and the legalisation of euthanasia can both protect
Euthanasia can benefit families, mainly by giving them closure after enduring years of watching a relative in a brain dead state or coma. However if the decision is solely left to the family this could leave patients open to wrongful euthanasia, however thorough investigation of any cases of non-voluntary euthanasia could prevent this. An American woman, Terri Schiavo, was allowed to die in late 2005 after suffering a persistent vegetative state for over 15 years. Her death allowed her husband to move on in his life, remarrying 10 months later.
The legalisation of euthanasia can benefit patients with various different illnesses that are beyond cure. It can also give families the closure they need to carry on with their life. It is morally wrong to let someone suffer a prolonged, painful death rather than allowing them to choose the time to die with their dignity intact. The one way for us to move forward is to emulate South Australia and legalise the right for the competent to refuse medical treatment. This would be the beginnings of the legalisation for euthanasia.
Bibliography
Dr. Nitschke, P. (2003, June). Philip Nitschke Interview.
Interview broadcasted on ‘George Negus Tonight’. Perth, Australia.
Young, R. (2002). Voluntary Euthanasia.
Stanford University. [WWW Document].
URL: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/euthanasia-voluntary/
Lane, R.D. (1995, August). Euthanasia: The Debate Continues.
Institute of Practical Philosophy, Malaspina University-College.
URL: http://www.mala.bc.ca/www/ipp/euthanas.htm
