Human Euthanasia is Unethical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Euthanasia is Unethical - Essay Example All of them are for the protection of life. In the world of medicine, the World Medical Association (WMA, 2002) made its point well on euthanasia. The policy adopted by the 38th WMA Assembly, in Madrid, Spain, October 1987, states: "Euthanasia, that is the act of deliberately ending the life of a patient, even at the patient's own request or at the request of close relatives, is unethical. This does not prevent the physician from respecting the desire of a patient to allow the natural process of death to follow its course in the terminal phase of sickness." "Physicians-assisted suicide, like euthanasia, is unethical and must be condemned by the medical profession. Where the assistance of the physician is intentionally and deliberately directed at enabling an individual to end his or her own life, the physician acts unethically. However the right to decline medical treatment is a basic right of the patient and the physician does not act unethically even if respecting such a wish results in the death of the patient." As one of the most contentious issues of our time, "euthanasia" (herein clarified as human) is understood as "good death." According to Bamgbose (2004), there are many angles in looking at this issue as euthanasia has been deliberated in a many-sided debate from different groups. On one side are the medical practitioners ready to assist with their expertise; on another are the legal practitioners who interpret the law; on still another are those in the judicial arm of government who have to make authoritative decisions. There are yet the two groups where on one side are the terminally ill who look for assistance to die with dignity, and then on the other side are the family members much tormented with anguish. My position. The debate on euthanasia is on whether a person may decide to have his or her life terminated for his or her own benefit (Bamgbose, 2004). The burden appears to lie on the one who has a life to reckon with. Does a person own his own life such that he can decide how long he should live or notAs defined by euthanasia.com (http://www.euthanasia.com/index.html), euthanasia is the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. Accordingly, the key word here is "intentional" so that if death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia therefore refers to when the person who is killed has requested to be killed. Accordingly, there is no euthanasia unless the death is intentionally caused by what was done or not done (Website: euthanasia.com). Zeroing in on this angle, this paper takes on the position that a person's decision to terminate his or her life is unethical. In other words, the WMA's belief that euthanasia is unethical is well taken. Euthanasia or good death or mercy killing may take on other meanings like suicide or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) depending on the circumstance. All of them, however, amount to euthanasia. For either argument for and against euthanasia, this paper will endeavor to counter or concur with the contentions accordingly The word euthanasia originated from an amalgam of two Greek words: eu