Euthanasia should be Human Right?

Question

Does anyone who has seen or been along side someone with Cancer or Terminal illness till the end believe that Euthinasia should not have been an option? It seems we show our animals more respect in their lives that when they become sick we dont want to see them suffer so we make the decison for them to have them euthinized. Why can we not have the same right to decide and ask for help to achieve the same end without the suffering.

Answer 1

This question shows in clarity why we should all have a living will in place. Mine (cancer "survivor") states that in the event I'm incapacitated (physically &/or mentally - as from stroke) I wish no artificial feeding or hydration. Further legal instructions state that if I am in unbearable pain that I may be heavily sedated to the point of coma, at which point the above would also be in effect. If sedation knocks out the ability to breathe, well, so be it.

Sometimes pain cannot be adequately controlled. I had severe metastases to the spine & pelvis - the bones were not much more than a shadow on x-ray. What bone remained was heavily fractured. I was in such pain that I was determined that if there was no improvement after a treatment or two of chemo (at which point it would have been palliative only) that I would let the cancer take me.

No one who has not prayed for death on a daily, minute by minute, basis should be allowed to say how your life should end. On the other hand, no one but the patient can & should issue final instructions.

Answer 2

It should be another issue of choice, and no one should have the right to say I can't exercise it. That the right wing - I assume mostly religious - foists their puritanical beliefs on everyone is appalling and they should be neither supported nor elected. That people like Bush continue to (try to) escalate conflict on foriegn soil with 3,000 US and 60,000+ Iraqis dead for his War for Gas while concurrently making millions suffer needlessly at their end, is either hypocritical or right in line with each other, depending on perspective. Either way, it's flat-out wrong.

In short, I agree fully with the questioner and it's time for change; my mom (94) wants it, I want it and everyone I know wants it. Those that don't want it can simply opt out (until, of course, they've suffered for a year or two with some terminal disease and have a change of heart.) Cheers.

Answer 3

I think they're for religious and political issues.

Some believe the vast difference between man and animal is that man has a spirit (soul) and animals do not.

The next thing is definition of murder. To help someone die sounds a lot like murder. Maybe we can classify it as "Assisted Suicide", but suicide is still murder to oneself.

Those two are the biggest things that I think make the difference. I'm simply giving answers - it might not be what you want to hear.

I have considered this for myself. And my family knows that if I'm ever in an accident which leaves me a vegetable, to keep me alive long enough to see if I can live on my own. If I need permanent life support, I'll be ready for the Pearly Gates.

Answer 4

I have thought about this many times and I agree with you on one level, but unless a person has signed a living will that states he or she would want to be euthanized in such a situation, it is legally and morally a difficult decision for another human to make that decision for him or her.

I watched my dad suffer with cancer and all we could do is ask for more morphine until he let go. It's tough, but people and dogs are very different when it comes to legal and moral issues.

Answer 5

Having nursed my father in law through pancreatic cancer, and while currently nursing my mother in law through empysema, I have had many moments where I have pondered exactly the same thing! Neither of my in laws have chosen to suffer, but until the law is changed my mother in law will continue to suffer a slow death by suffocation. My father in law took 6 absolutely miserable months to die, miserable for him, and us, the people who loved him and spent months physically restraining him as he struggled against the damage to his brain function caused by liver failure.

Answer 6

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide are not the same.

As Christians, we believe that human life is a sacred gift from God to be cherished and respected because every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).

In heeding God’s command, "Thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13), we recognize that we cannot end of our lives or the lives of others as we please. We must respect and protect the dignity of human from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

Euthanasia occurs when a doctor or medical staff person administers a lethal dose of medication with the intention of killing the patient. This can happen with or without the patient's knowledge or acceptance.

Assisted suicide occurs when a doctor or medical staff person prescribes a lethal amount of medication with the intent of helping a person commit suicide. The patient then takes the dose or turns the switch.

We also recognize the need for the proper management of pain. Modern medicine provides effective treatments for pain that guarantees that no one will suffer a painful death. No one needs to escape pain by seeking death.

Suicidal wishes among the terminally ill are due to treatable depression similar to that of other suicidal people. If we address their pain, depression and other problems, then there is generally no more talk of suicide.

Repercussions of Assisted Suicide
+ The patient seriously, possibly completely, damages his or her relationship with God.
+ Anyone assisting a suicide gravely endangers his or her spiritual, psychological, and emotional well-being.
+ Corruption of the medical profession: whose ethical code calls on physicians to serve life and never to kill. The American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and dozens of other medical groups argue that the power to assist in taking patients’ lives is "a power that most health-care professionals do not want and could not control.”
+ Society will more and more disregards the dignity of human life.

Possible Corruptions
+ Exploitation of the marginalized: The poor, the elderly, minorities, those who lack health insurance would be the first to feel pressure to die.
+ Cost control: Patients with long term or expensive illnesses and considered economic liabilities would be encouraged die.
+ Rebirth of historical prejudices: Many able-bodied people, including some physicians, say they would "rather be dead than disabled." Such prejudices could easily lead families, physicians, and society to encourage death for people who are depressed and emotionally vulnerable as they adjust to life with a serious illness or disability.

Jesus uttered the words of faith that continue to inspire and to guide the Church’s teaching in this mystery of Christian death: "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again" (John 10:17).

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

This is a religious question. Rational people say to stop the suffering. Religious people say that the bible says no and they have to suffer until they die from it.

Answer 8

This is not alowed for one major reason, some would abuse it! its very sad, because some do suffer much more than need be.