The United Kingdom Law on Assisted Suicide - Essay Example

AR The United Kingdom Law on Assisted Suicide The UK should revisit its law on assisted suicide, either supporting or opposing this view. Every individual in this world has been given the right to live according to his will. But a time comes in life when an individual is not able to bear natural and pathological changes in their surroundings or body. This is the time when the individual seeks out a way through which he can use rights to take his own life by the help of others. But all over the world in most of the countries this right of taking lives has been denied by the governments and is counted as murder or manslaughter. Assisted suicide in United Kingdom has been pronounced illegal by the authorities. Any man being involved in assisted suicide would be accountable to charges of murder. It is believed by many that the UK law regarding assisted suicide be changed as individuals who are suffering from the problems of life should have the right to decide about their life or death. But in response to this authorities come forward with an interesting argument which states that no individual has the right to take his life even if he is suffering from the worst conditions. This argumentative essay would further provide arguments from both sides and would conclude if the UK law regarding assisted suicide be changed or not (Dimond, 2004; Keown 2002). The UK Law on assisting suicide has created hype ever since the case of Dr Arthur who let die the baby who was rejected by his mother. This was however included in active euthanasia. Assisted suicide is basically asked for when patients are not able to bear with the physical or psychological pain. But if in such a position the physicians assist the patient in killing themselves then the UK law would charge them with accounts of murder. Thus even with the consent of the patient assisted suicide is not considered to be legal in the United Kingdom. In my view the current law of declaring euthanasia illegal is quite ethical and relevant when it comes to someone’s life. If the UK Law on assisted suicide is changed then a number of cases may arise in which the patient would be seeking death. It may also be seen that even the patients who would have a chance of survival would seek the law of assisting suicide if it is implemented in the UK (Dimond, 2004). The revisiting of law can have several adverse effects on the society as a whole. It is seen that nowadays young people are not able to cope up with many stages of life and thus they resort to suicide. This new law would pave a way for them to be legally applicable to death. Thus in other words it can be said that if the UK law is revisited many unwanted cases may also arise who would seek death. Proponents of revisiting the law state that every individual has the right to die properly without pain and if such a law is enacted many people may be relieved of pain. However critics here come forward with the claim that dying is not the choice of an individual himself but it is an induced action of the God (Keown 2002; Griffiths 1999). Euthanasia is illegal in UK but a double effect is stated to be legal. By double effect it is meant that the physician can provide supplements to the patient to relieve his pain even if the supplements are reducing his life. This double effect in comparison of Euthanasia does not directly kill the individual but rather provides him a way through which he can over through his pain and live the last moments without agony. If UK law is changed on euthanasia many undesirable patients would also seek death to get relieved of the pain that they are being imposed with. It is seen that every disease has its profound effects on the patients and while the patient is suffering he is not willing to cope up with the increasing pressure. Thus even those patients who would not have such a serious disease would seek euthanasia and the existence of life would be threatened. In some cases it is also seen that when the patient is suffering from terminal illness he is not in his senses and he would require something which is beyond his thoughts. For example patients with Alzheimer’s Disease suffer from cognitive impairment and they may not know what exactly death may cause. These patients then would ask for the option of assisted suicide without even knowing that it may cause permanent seizure of their bodily functions. Such similar diseases may cause loss of cognitive abilities and these patients may use the new revisited law without even knowing that death would ensue (BBC News). Euthanasia is considered to be unethical by many as it may also distort the image of doctors as it is thought of in the current society. Doctors pledge to save the life of individuals and not take them even when the patient is suffering from pain. However doctors can interfere in such a situation by relieving the pain of the individuals and decreasing their pain so that their death is painless. Revisiting UK law to make euthanasia legal is thought to be unethical as many patients would be willing to die only because of their daily life stress. These individuals would make the wrong use of the law and would want to die without any strong reason (Keown, 2002; Dimond 2004). In conclusion it can be said that Euthanasia is unethical in this modern world and UK should not be revisiting its law to support this unethical practice. It has been seen that several attempts have been made to get the unethical practice legal but all these attempts have been laid down in the House of Lords by lesser votes. In my view such a law should not be introduced only to save humanity (Keown 2002). References Euthanasia and the Law. BBC News Top of Form Dimond B. (2004). Healthcare professionals and euthanasia: current law in the UK. British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing). 13 (15), 12-. Bottom of Form Top of Form Griffiths, P. (1999). Physician-Assisted Suicide and Voluntary Euthanasia: is it time the UK law caught up?Nursing Ethics. 6 (2), 107-117. Bottom of Form Top of Form Keown, J. (2002). Euthanasia, ethics and public policy: An argument against legalisation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bottom of Form Read More