Euthanasia – is it time to make it legal?
Author: Professor Joyce Harper
This is probably something you do not think about until you have to watch a loved one die. My sister died last year and she was unconscious for many weeks, finding it hard to breathe and in pain. We begged the doctors to do something but they said they could not. It was a terrible thing to witness. Some nights as I sat with her I honestly thought about taking a pillow and smothering her. I have never had thoughts like this in my life before but I just wanted her to be at peace.
Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering. Voluntary euthanasia is with the patients consent. Non voluntary euthanasia is where the patient’s consent cannot be obtained, such as for a child. Involuntary is against the persons will. All types of euthanasia can be passive (such as withdrawing essential medicines) and active (using a lethal injection, etc). Assisted suicide is actively helping someone to end their life.
Where is euthanasia legal?
“As of October 2015 , human euthanasia is legal only in the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Colombia and Luxembourg. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Albania and in the US states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico, Montana and California (effective January 1, 2016).” The Supreme Court of Canada decided last Friday to allow doctor-assisted suicide under certain circumstances, while giving the government more time to pass a law governing the practice.
In the UK both active euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. Depending on the circumstances, euthanasia is regarded as either manslaughter or murder and is punishable by law, with a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment. Assisted suicide is illegal under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) and is punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
I do not see the issue with medically assisted euthanasia. If someone gives their consent, either before they get ill or when ill, and it is supervised by doctors, what is the issue? Do you think we should change the law globally?
Read More:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-know-you-love-me-now-let-die-louis-m-profeta-md
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Euthanasiaandassistedsuicide/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Image credits: simple.wikipedia.org and www.theguardian.pe.ca
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