The Debate Over Euthanasia Essay -- Euthanasia Death Argumentative Ess

The Debate Over euthanasiaThe controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for good conclusion, refers to the act of land uping another persons vivification in order to destination their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the persons life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patients life support, withholding food and water, and discontinuing medical treatments. Active euthanasia includes any direct action taken to cause the death of the person, such as administrating a deadly drug.2 The debate over this issue stems from moral, ethical, and religious beliefs. All of these standpoints either side with the patient dying a natural death or from an accel termted death by euthanasia. History Throughout history, euthanasia has been used as a way to relieve a p atient from an incurable illness or from sustenance a life of unbearable pain. Many cultures, such as the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, did not oppose ones decision to end his life rather than living with agonizing pain.3 During this time extremity, this choice was commonplace. A few ancient philosophers, who believed that the ending of a human life belonged to the gods only, met it with objection. When the Christian era began, the subject was rarely discussed or practiced because of the strong trust and faith held in God and his divine command. It was not until the eighteenth century Enlightenment period that new ideas favoring euthanasia were put forth by philosophers and other prominent figures such as Samuel Williams and David Hume.4 By the close of the 1800s... .... - Euthanasia Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, International Anti-Euthanasia toil Force, 2 March 1999, http//iaetf.org/index.htm (8 March 1999). - Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide All Sides of the Issues, 3 March 1999, http//www.religioustolerance.org/euthanas.htm(4 March 1999). - Green, James T. The Effects of Chemotherapy, 22 January 1999, http//www.databaun.com/jamez/ write/chemo.html(2 March 1999). - Interview With Timothy Quill M.D., Frontline/WGBH Educational Foundation, 1998, http//www2.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kevorkian/medicine/quill2.html(4 March 1999). - Larue, Gerald, Th.D. Playing God Fifty Religions Views on Your Right to Die Wakefield, NJ Moyer Bell, 1996. - Manning, Michael M.D. Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide. Mahwah, NJ Paulist Press, 1998.