People would like to see euthanasia legalised as it should be up to the person involved i they do or do not want to live. It should not be up to anybody other than to whom it may concern. If sombody is in uncontrollable pain consistently they should have the right to die if they were sure that that is what they wanted. Under no circumstances should anyone have to suffer if it is not what they wanted. About 5% of terminal pain is uncontrollable. People who are against euthanasia are saying that they want to keep these people in distress.
Almost half of the doctor population agree with voluntary euthanasia. They would willingly end someones life if they were sure it was what the patient wanted. A survey showed that higher than 10% of doctors had already been involved in the death of a patient. If the patient is eventually going to have a slow and very painful death, why should they not have the right to happily die in a peaceful way? They should not have to go through a painful life if they know that eventually they will die and it will be severely painful. They should be entitled to the relief of their pain. When someone dies it should be with dignity and peace.
Also, some people argue that there is no point in living if there is nothing to live for. Imagine, you are in hospital. As you cannot move due due paralysis, you are forced to lie in an uncomfortable bed day after day. For some reason you have lost all friends, family and don't have a home. What would you want to do? Carry on living eventually becoming depressed and dying unhappy or have the right to voluntarily end your life making yourself happy? If someone is genuinely wanting to die, why cant they? Nobody can force somebody into living!
However, people do argue against euthanasia. Some doctors can argue that the patient is not making rational decisions due to being depressed. They will argue that the patient willl regret it. Then the doctor will force the person to stay alive by keeping their medication running. This makes the doctor have total control over the patient, this is wrong.
Opposition of the decriminalisation of euthanasia also comes from religious people. They believe that there is only one person with the right to take and give life and that is God. Strict Christians follow the ten commandments, one of which is "Thou shall not kill", and euthanasia is seen as aform of killing. These views do not come from every religion. They vary depending on the religion.
Some people might say that if euthanasia was legalised, the system could be open to abuse. However, if it was to be introduced and strictly controlled, there would be little chance of abuse. Today, doctors are allowed to withold treatment or deny resuscitation but they do not do this because they need an extra bed or because the greedy relatives want to get their hands on the will. Recently, the family of Mary Oremerod praised her doctor after he had committed passive euthanasia.
In conclusion, after investigating reasons for and gainst euthanasia, I still have my mind set on the legalisation of euthanasia. I believe that no other person should decide the fate of someone elses life. If someone is unconscious and cannot make their own decision, the doctor can perform involuntary euthanasia if the doctor believes that it is the best answer. People should not have to go through anything that they do not wish to go through. It is their life, nobody elses!
