Voluntary/assisted Euthanasia - Essay Example

Voluntary/ Assisted Euthanasia Voluntary /Assisted Euthanasia Voluntary/Assisted euthanasia has been an issue of debate around the globe. It has been subjected to legal, ethical and religious implications. Euthanasia is an act whereby a clinical practitioner takes direct steps which result in the death of the patient in accordance with the wish of the patient. On the other hand, assisted euthanasia is a term used to describe the act whereby a patient himself administers life taking drugs for ending his life.

These drugs are prescribed by the clinical practitioner but he is involved in their administration. This issue has sparked various controversies and ethical and religious obligations have restricted this practice from being used widely. Euthanasia has only been legalized in Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The United States has also been the center to many arguments with relation to this issue and only the states of Oregon and Washington made this practice legal (Pereira 2011). Euthanasia has led to far greater arguments and debates in the United States than it has in many countries across the world.

In the states of Oregon and Washington, euthanasia whereby a physician directly injects medicines has not been made legal and only assisted suicide has been legalized. Despite of its lack of popularity in the other states, a study in Oregon demonstrated that seventy seven percent of its residents favored assisted euthanasia. Important causes which have prevented laws in favor of euthanasia to be passed in the United States include the strong hold of the Church and also the fact that American citizens are influenced by religion more than the people of other developed regions like Canada and Europe.

It is also seen that laws supporting euthanasia have failed in the country owing to the lack of trust of the Americans in the healthcare system of the country. Citizens suspect that by passing the laws in favor of euthanasia, the health insurance companies might be greatly supportive of it to prevent the costs which would have to be utilized for the care of chronically ill patients (Angell 2012).A major reason for the rejection of euthanasia by a large number of people is their religion. Major religions across the world including Judaism, Christianity as well as Islam consider euthanasia as a criminal act and consider it equivalent to murder.

The religious views of Muslims are strongly against this practice and they are based mainly upon the teachings of their Holy Book, Quran as well as the sayings of their Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The verses of the Holy Quran as well as the sayings of their Prophet speak strongly against the ending of life and suicide. These teachings are pro-life and support the saving of the lives of human beings. Euthanasia is in no way acceptable in Islam and it is believed that the prescribers of euthanasia would go to Hell (Yousuf and Mohammed 2012).

Apart from the legal and religious perspective, euthanasia has to be managed in a very appropriate manner by the medical team and a nurse has a pivotal role in euthanasia. The nurse is involved in the process of euthanasia from the point when the patient places the request for anesthesia. The nurse needs to ensure that the patient is ready for taking this major step. It is a part of her role to be present and assist the physician in the guidance of the patient for performing euthanasia. Following this the nurse also to be provide support to the family of the deceased patient (De Beer, Gastmans & Casterle 2004).

A study conducted in Belgium where euthanasia is legalized revealed that palliative care nurses are well aware regarding these roles that are to be fulfilled by them during the entire course of euthanasia (Dierckx et al 2006).Euthanasia has been subjected to legal as well as religious restrictions across the world. Only a few countries have succeeded in legalizing voluntary/assisted euthanasia. In the United States, there is still much opposition to euthanasia and only two states have succeeded in making it legal.

Globally, a major reason for the rejection of euthanasia is the religious beliefs of the people. For example, Muslins are strongly against this practice and consider it to be a criminal act. ReferencesAngell, M. Comfort and Familiarity. The New York Times. The Opinion Pages. 14 Jun. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/10/why-do-americans-balk-at-euthanasia-laws/comfort-familiarity-and-assisted-suicide-lawsDe Beer, T, Gastmans, C, & d Dierckx, (October 01, 2004).

Involvement of nurses in euthanasia: a review of the literature. Journal of Medical Ethics, 30, 5, 494-498.Dierckx, . C. B., Verpoort, C., De, B. N., & Gastmans, C. (January 01, 2006). Nurses views on their involvement in euthanasia: a qualitative study in Flanders (Belgium). Journal of Medical Ethics, 32, 4, 187-92.Pereira, J. (January 01, 2011). Legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide: the illusion of safeguards and controls. Current Oncology (toronto, Ont.), 18, 2, 38-45.Yousuf, R. M., & Mohammed, F. A. R.

(June 01, 2012). Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: A review from Islamic point of view. International Medical Journal Malaysia, 11, 1, 63-68.