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report. This report is mirrored across the globe. 64% of American's believe that a doctor should be allowed to end the life of a patient who has a painful and terminal disease if they wish to die, from the Roper Poll. In Australia, the figure is even higher, with 78% backing the doctor's right to end the patients life, from the Roy Morgan Research Centre Poll.
The elderly are more in support of voluntary euthanasia, the first ever poll aimed at pensioners found that 92% of those surveyed said that doctor's should be allowed to end the life of terminally ill patients who want to die.
It is a widely held misconception that most Roman Catholics are opposed to voluntary euthanasia. Certainly the official position of the church hierarchy is opposed to voluntary euthanasia, however, research by the NOP Poll, has revealed that 73% of Catholics agree that doctor's should be allowed to help an incurably ill patient to die.
Arguments in favour of euthanasia emphasise that every human being should have the right to decide when they die.
Some Christians quote Jesus' commandment to 'love your neighbour as yourself' in favour of euthanasia. They argue that, if you really love someone who is terminally ill and in great pain then you would want to help that person end their suffering.
For Christians (and other religious people), death is not the end. Death should not be feared but is a much better state than a life of suffering.
After interviewing friends and relatives I have found a general pattern. It seems as though older generations have more of a contribution to the idea of euthanasia. This is most likely due to their greater knowledge of the subject.
My results are as follows,
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These results were obtained with great appreciation of all those questioned. There were some participants who did not know what euthanasia was. So after explaining it to them, they may not have given me a very thought through answer. But as you can acknowledge, there is a distinct difference between those for and against euthanasia.
To be fair there are a lot more reasons against euthanasia than there are for euthanasia. Which is probably the reason why it is illegal at present.
To begin with, the law both civil and religious, forbid euthanasia, an example of this is the case of Robert Latimer. Although he claimed to have mercifully ended the life of his daughter who suffered from an extreme case of cerebral palsy, he was convicted of murder in the second degree. The courts were obliged to find him guilty as he broke the law by taking the life of another human being. Robert Latimer took it upon himself to decide that his daughter would never lead a full life. Tracey Latimer was never given an opportunity for success, as her life was taken. A not guilty verdict would have told people that parents of disabled children could perform voluntary euthanasia on their children.
In addition, active euthanasia, if legalised will say okay to practising involuntary euthanasia as well. Presently, there is much research being done concerning the need for euthanasia and its effects.
Also, euthanasia contradicts the point of medicine. Doctors cannot be expected to heal as well as kill. The purpose of medicine is to get rid of suffering and death. Euthanasia is in contrast to this purpose, and over time euthanasia would corrupt the medical system.
There are indeed many alternatives to euthanasia. Aside from drug therapy and hospitalisation, psychological treatment and palliative care are replacements. To begin, many disabled members of society lead fulfilling lives, except for the fact their degrees of success are looked down upon by the rest of society, they are still giving joy to themselves and those close to them.
Arguments against euthanasia emphasise the fact that hospices can provide a caring environment where terminally ill patients can die a dignified and painless death. There is therefore, no need for euthanasia.
Many Christians believe that life is sacred and that it is wrong to kill another person, some even read biblical passages to help make the decision about euthanasia. Paul taught that people must expect suffering in life and should not try to escape from it. In parables such as 'The Sheep and the Goats', Jesus taught that Christians will be judged by God on how they have helped the sick. Jesus always cared for the sick, and therefore euthanasia should not be an option.
Many doctors and nurses are against euthanasia. As part of their training, they took an oath to save life, not to end it. Also the system would be open to abuse if legalised. A very ill person is not in a proper state to make a decision to choose between life and death.
The Roman Catholic Church condemns euthanasia completely. Their position is stated in the 'Declaration on Euthanasia' issued in 1980. It stated that any attempt on ending an innocent person's life is opposing God's love for that person. Circumstances like long illness and old age can actually help people to face death, even though death is very frightening.
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The Church of England's report in 1975 'On Dying Well' and the Methodist Conference's statement in 1974 both oppose euthanasia. They emphasise the fact that humans are God's creation, and life is sacred. Killing is therefore 'playing God' to say who should live and who should die.
Once voluntary euthanasia is legalised in a single country or state, people from neighbouring constituencies will take advantage of it. In this way no territory can act in isolation. The decisions we make might have implications for other nations, not only for their citizens who choose euthanasia tourism, but also for future changes in their own laws.
Any state considering a change in its laws in this regard has a responsibility not just to its own citizens but to the whole international community.
Ironically, voluntary euthanasia legislation makes doctors less accountable, and gives them more power. Patients generally decide in favour of euthanasia on the basis of information given to them by doctors: information about their diagnosis, prognosis, treatments available and anticipated degree of future suffering. If a doctor confidently suggests a certain course of action it can be very difficult for a patient to resist. However it can be very difficult to be certain in these areas. Diagnoses may be mistaken. Prognoses may be wildly misjudged. New treatments, which the doctor is unaware of, may have recently been developed or about to be developed. The doctor may not be up-to-date in symptom control.
Doctors are human and subject to temptation. Sometimes their own decision-making may be affected, consciously or unconsciously, by their degree of tiredness or the way they feel about the patient. Voluntary euthanasia gives the medical practitioner power, which can be too easily abused, and a level of responsibility he should not rightly be entitled to have. Voluntary euthanasia makes the doctor the most dangerous man in the world.
To conclude, we need to recognise that requests for voluntary euthanasia are extremely rare in situations where the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients are properly met. As the symptoms which prompt the request for euthanasia can be almost always managed with therapies currently available, our highest priority must be to ensure that top quality terminal care is readily available.
While recognising the importance of individual patient autonomy, history has clearly demonstrated that legalised euthanasia poses serious risks to society as a whole. Patients can be coerced and exploited, the search for better therapies is compromised and involuntary euthanasia inevitably follows.
Legalisation allowing voluntary euthanasia should be firmly resisted on the grounds that it side steps true compassionate care (because effective alternatives exist) and ultimately undermines rather than protects patient autonomy.
Hopefully this has given you a good insight into what euthanasia really is, and I have come to a final verdict that euthanasia should not be legalised due to the greater amount of information, against it, all of which is very supportive.
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Resources:
Glasgow Herald
NOP Poll
Roper Poll
Roy Morgan Research Centre Poll
Voluntary Euthanasia Society
Glasgow PAS report
British Social Attitudes report
Euthanasia Today article