Against the law in the UK. Fair? I say no. Euthanasia is when an individual is assisted to commit suicide, this is because the individual is in pain due to a terminal illness. People such as Diane Pretty and Tony Nickson were in pain because they had a terminal disease and could not let their family members help them end their life; Fair? I say no. Euthanasia should be legalised so people can be helped to end their life if they choose to. We have a choice, don’t we? We have the choice to get married, get a job and much more.
So people who need to end their life like people with a terminal illness should also have a choice. Why does the law stop them? Giving a sentence of life imprisonment to the person who assisted them will not change anything. This just destroys another life. Life is valuable, but people should have the choice to end it if they are seriously ill. “I don’t want a distressed, undignified death”, these true, last word of a woman in desperate need to end her own life speaks volumes. Diagnosed with terminal Motor Neurone Disease left Diane Pretty feeling helpless and unwanted.
She wanted her husband to help her but it was against the Suicide Act 1961. Her condition worsened; her grip weakened. Uncontrollable drooling of thick saliva and her muscles were gradually wearing away; they lost their stiffness accompanied by indescribable pain. She was in agony. Advanced stages into her illness involved her inability to communicate with her beloved husband. Imagine being in continuous pain and yet being unable to share your sorrows with someone? Diane was lost; almost like a prisoner in shackles, feeling worthless and trapped in a cycle of misery.
Did she have any true purpose at this stage n her life except the choice to end her painful life? Several months later she died in an ‘undignified death, in pain and agony. 55% of terminally ill patients died in pain and indignity last year; proving there are many more Diane’s out there with conditions for worse than the trauma Diane was victim to. Isn’t the UK a free country? So why can’t an individual’s point of death be their own choice? Adding emphasis of’assisted suicide’, euthanasia is potentially a loving action. The word ‘assisted meaning helpful: shows an array of loving attributes that relate to this action.
By performing euthanasia, we are helping someone end their life by choice which presents the compassionate, to unconditional love humans must have towards each other. Furthermore, a right to life is a universally recognised and accepted human right. Likewise, the right to end one’s life own life should most definitely be an option. Denying someone this basic opportunity strips away that individual’s human right. Besides in the UK, abortion; also known as the ‘deliberate’ termination of a human foetus is permitted within twenty four weeks of conception. So why has euthanasia been rejected?
Surely we are worsening a person’s painful experience by limiting the choice they have about putting a full stop to such a treacherous experience. We should be the voice of those who are unable to form full sentences properly, the silent sufferers who need help, even on their death bed. In the Netherlands, euthanasia is supported and legal, their laws allow assisted suicide if they are seriously ill and if they are not influenced anyone else. Doctors assist the suicide if needed. Why can’t the UK adopt this? In 2010 about 405 people made this choice and died with dignity when they chose to instead of being in pain.
California is a state in the USA which allows euthanasia, if two specialist doctors can recommend this with the patient’s agreement and if the patient is terminally ill, they could apply to the district court for permission to commit assisted suicide. Why can’t we support this? The government should help assisted suicide but it is not, could it be that it doesn’t want to ruin its political image or because many other countries are not supporting euthanasia. People take flights to countries which support euthanasia to commit suicide because they are desperate to end an existence that is unbearable.
We shouldn’t let people suffer this way. Surely it isn’t humane? We euthanize our pets don’t we? We love our pets as well as our friends and family. Humans feel pain as well as pets. So why can’t humans commit assisted suicide whilst animals don’t actually have a choice? Legalising euthanasia will respect the choice of terminal ill people would be making as they have a freedom of choice. It will show that we respect the terminal ill and that they can rely on people to help assist the suicide as this is the choice that they have made Opposingly, religious believers may ask ‘What is the purpose of God?
Surely he decides? ‘ Holy Scriptures such as the Qur’an in Islam do reiterates the importance of ‘not killing’, but surely an all-loving, benevolent God wants us to have a happy life and prevent us from those innocent civilians who perished in the traumatic earthquake in Nepal? Miracles are not guaranteed and hence we are incorrect to believe God will end all suffering at all times. It is said that if euthanasia is legalised in the UK it can lead to many problems and a big change in the health care system, which society will regret in the future.
This could be because it will be an easy option for everyone to just commit suicide. Does this mean people who have terminal illnesses, some not even able to form a full sentence properly, suffer just because it may affect other people and let people take sudden choices of death? Others say that if euthanasia is legalised, health professionals will go against the medical ethics and it will be harder for them to improve someone health which can lead to a bad health care system and more deaths.
The medical ethics are moral rules that doctors need to follow. So doctors are against it as can lead into illegal problems. If euthanasia is t will go against the rule of non-maleficence as this rule is about not harming your patient in any way. People should be able to make their own choices about living their life and how they see it fit . Their death should be the same. Is it fair to have no choice and have to feel pain or indignity every minute of your life? Euthanasia. Assisted Suicide. Against the law in the UK. Fair? I say no.
