Circumstances That Lead to Euthanasia - Essay Example

Euthanasia This refers to the aspect of terminating the life of an individual without having them feel any pain (Dekay, 892). This can occur through having a medical practitioner providing a patient with drugs that can easily terminate their lives ahead of time, for any of the various reasons that the practitioner may deem appropriate. Euthanasia can also result from the medical practitioner putting some fatal drugs or chemical substances, which are lethal and can easily terminate life, within the reach of a patient who is already seeking to die, before the actual natural death. The circumstances that have led to physicians opting for this, is a situation where the patient is suffering from a disease or a condition that makes them experience intense pain (890). Another of such circumstances is when the patients are suffering from terminal illnesses, and the medical practitioner considers it might take too long before the patient dies. There are also circumstances under which the patient may insist on themselves, to be put to death, rather that undergo certain medical practices, which they consider too invasive. If such patients are suffering from undiagnosed illnesses which may require several invasive procedure, scans and diagnosis, which the patient considers as causing more pain. In such a situation where the patient opts to have their lives terminated on such grounds, then, such termination of life prematurely, is known to be through informed consent (893). Thus, Euthanasia is administered on patients, once it is established that they cannot be treated, and the hope of them living anymore is by no chance going to increase. However, Euthanasia, being a termination of life ahead of time, is a controversial issue. While some considers it appropriate to have patients suffering from a disease that gives them intense pain, have their lives terminated to save them from experiencing such pains, other considers this wrong and unethical. The aspect is even more complex, where the patients themselves gives an informed consent to have their lives terminated, through the stimulation of a quick death, thus saving them from the agony, suffering and pain they experience. Thus, in the perfect definition of Euthanasia, then the aspects of prompt death, pain and suffering as well as the intention are important considerations. For those who are opposed to this form of death, the argument is that an individual physician or medical practitioner may induce such quick death to another individual for self-gains (895). Thus determining the actual intention for inducing such premature death is a very vital aspect of Euthanasia, to prevent the likelihood of medical practitioners terminating the lives of certain patients, whom they consider appropriate to kill. Thus, for any death to be considered Euthanasia, then there must have been an intention to assist or enhance the quick death of a patient, and paramount is the fact that such must be a merciful act, causing a merciful death (893). Thus, to qualify and differentiate Euthanasia from any other intentional killing, then there must be a good motive on the part of the individual assisting the patient to undergo such a quick death. This means that Euthanasia is meant for the utmost good of the patient undergoing such a death. The reasons that makes Euthanasia seems a suitable practice, as have been advanced by those individuals who supports this practice, is the fact that any individual, including the patients have a right over their own life. That being the case, then the supporters of Euthanasia argues that individual should be allowed to determine their own fate, that of death inclusive (897). The supporters of this practice also observes that assisting an individual to die is the best option, as compared to sitting around and watch such patients suffer, more so in a situation where the individuals are suffering from terminal illnesses, suffering intense pain or undergoing an irreversible coma. They argue that whether the practice of Euthanasia results from the individuals suffering or the patients experiencing intense pains, requesting their lives to be terminated, or from the own volition by medical practitioner handling such patients, is not a matter of importance. What is paramount, according to these proponents is the fact that the patient or suffering individual has been assisted to have a quick death, at the expense of living and experiencing some more pain and suffering (894). However, the supporters of the practice do observe that Euthanasia is only permissible and acceptable, only on the event that its allowance is not likely to cause any consequence that is not acceptable. For those who oppose the practice of Euthanasia, its allowance is most unethical and unacceptable, since it amounts to granting an individual the sole discretion of determining another individual’s death. This way, an individual physician or medical practitioner can opt to terminate the life of a patient at will, for any of their personal gains (899). The opposition to such a practice as Euthanasia greatly emanates from the religious circles, which considers that man, has no right to determine when to die or even terminate their lives, since this amounts to a sin that is punishable by the creator (896). Thus, according to religion, it is only the creator of man who has the sole discretion of determining when it is appropriate for any individual to die, in that it is not possible for any individual tom know whether they will die or live, based on their present circumstances, as this is amenable to change at the creators will. Another aspect that makes Euthanasia a complex and difficult practice to accept in the society is the fact that determining the actual magnitude of pain and suffering for a patient lacks any standardization. Thus, determining at what point to hasten the death of an individual based on the pain they experience is not clear. The other observation is the fact that, many other alternatives that can be applied on such individuals to relief their pains are available, at the expense of hastening their deaths (894). While some countries have legalized this practice, others have not and others are silent on the issue. Therefore, in conclusion, Euthanasia is a complex issue. Work Cited Dekay, Asch. Euthanasia among US critical care nurses. Practices, attitudes, and social and professional correlates. Med Care, 1997. 890–900. Print. Read More