book

Legalizing Euthanasia

21 Pages 1379 Words 1557 Views

The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu and thanatos, literally meaning “well death” or “good death”. It means a painless and gentle death. But in modern usage, it has come to imply that someone s life is ended for compassionate reasons by some passive or active steps taken by another person. Euthanasia nowadays, constitutes a moral issue that from time to time comes into view mainly from its supporters who, contrarily to more traditional opinions, believe that the man is the master of his life and that nobody else can force him to stay alive, especially when his life has become unbearable from the illness and the pain. This dilemma does not have an easy solution. An article published by Dr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, the director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Europe, is titled, “Euthanasia: We can live without it” gives valid reasons as to why euthanasia is unnecessary and shouldn’t be legalized. Karl Marx looked as society as a place of struggle, which lead to the conflict perspective. The conflict theory says that competition is the force for social change. Even in regions where Euthanasia is legal the cost is not covered. This causes a major class conflict, some can afford to die some cannot. Even worse than not being able to afford the right to die are the individuals who choose death because they feel they are financially burdening their loved ones. Fitzpatrick only touches on the financial aspect briefly. After further research a survey in Oregon,, one of the few places where "assisted dying" is legal but not euthanasia, showed, that in 66% of cases the reason for patients' requests was because they did not want to be a burden (Economic Aspects of Euthanasia). Family is the number one agent of socialization. Socialization starts when you are born and ends when you die. This 66% is putting their family’s finances or lack there of before their life; this statistic leads me to believe they are using euthanasia as a form of altruistic suicide rather then what is actually best for them. The cost to keep someone alive is greater than the cost to kill him or her through euthanasia. Therefore the Marxism theory would also not support euthanasia. Under a capitalist system the primary goal of any medical care goes from health to profit. Along with the conflict euthanasia causes between classes due to finances it also sparks a religious debate. Fitzpatrick states, “many religions believe that euthanasia is immoral, some religions regard it as a type of murder” (Fitzp

Read Full Essay