Should euthanasia be legal?

Ethical aspects of euthanasia (Greek for "good death"), a physician-assisted suicide of a patient with a goal of ending the suffering from a terminal or incurable illness, were debated since the times of Hippocrates. Since then, although modern medicine made a great deal of progress, euthanasia and its validity as a medical practice still leads to controversies. Should a patient in great suffering be able to end his life with the help of a doctor?

Yes, euthanasia should be legal

Euthanasia should be legal and available for suffering patients with no hope of recovery.

Euthanasia is a human right

Self-determination is a human right; patients have a right to a quick and painless suicide assisted by a doctor.

Prolonging suffering is unethical

Ending patient’s suffering is more ethically justified than prolonging it.

The difference between 'active' and 'passive' euthanasia

There is no meaningful distinction between active euthanasia and the withdrawal of life-sustaining medical interventions assisted by anesthetics. The end result is essentially the same.

Limitations of legal euthanasia

Legalization of euthanasia would not lead to harm or other unwanted consequences.

Euthanasia and human dignity

Many patients wish for legal euthanasia because of their reliance on third parties and humiliating conditions they're forced to live in for the remainder of their life. Denying them that right infringes on the dignity of human being.

Other species of animals are allowed to be euthanised

If other animal species are given the right to be euthanised when in unbearable pain, human beings should also be given that right.

No, euthanasia should be illegal

There is no ethical or medical justification for legalizing euthanasia.

Euthanasia violates and devalues the sanctity of human life

Human life is sacred and every being’s right to life shall be preserved regardless of quality or condition. Almost all major religions advocate this principle and any attempt to undermine this notion will have grave consequences on our own perception of human life.

Doctors' judgement isn't perfect

Legalizing euthanasia could prevent some patients from possible, even if unlikely, recovery.

Doctors should use anesthetics to alleviate suffering

Doctor first and foremost should administer anesthetics to patient’s system to alleviate his suffering, instead of an outright euthanasia.

Legal euthanasia could be easily abused

Proponents of legalizing euthanasia cannot guarantee that the practice wouldn't be abused.

Slippery slope argument

Legalizing voluntary euthanasia would lead to a creeping acceptance of non-voluntary euthanasia in cases where a patient cannot make a request for the termination of their life .
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This page was last edited on Thursday, 14 May 2020 at 09:32 UTC