Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EuthanasiaVoluntary euthanasia is

By removing treatment or administering high doses of pain-killers the doctor does not actually do anything that is immoral.

There are also many practical problems with legislation. It is possible that euthanasia could be misused by unscrupulous people who want the patients?s legacy, or by hospitals trying to save money. Then there are also problems with creating legislation. For example, who decides if a patient is mentally ill and unable to make a rational decision about euthanasia? In the play Ken has to be examined by a psychologist named Dr Barr who decides he is sane and suffering from ?reactive depression? and that he is ?reacting in a perfectly rational way to his situation.? However, Dr Barr could of easily made a mistake and diagnosed Ken with a mental illness, and Ken could of been forced to live the rest of his life with the ?high spot ? of his day being a ?new catheter? or ?an enema?.

Opponents also argue that cures may be found for patients such as Ken. However, the fact is that most patients can not bear to wait for a cure when they live such debased lives, and they believe their life to be a hopeless cause. For instance, Ken says ?I am almost completely paralysed and I will always be that way.?, when he talks to Mr Hill.

To summarise, the arguments for and against euthanasia are fairly clear if we are objective. However, I am subjective and on the basis that that a large majority of terminations are comfortably decided by our present system there is no need to legalise euthanasia. To do this will open the right to a ?good death? to the vagaries of theologians, legislators, medical practicioners, etc. who may be divorced from the realities of lying in a bed of pain, excreta and debasement!

Clark, Brian; ?Whose Life Is It Anyway??, published by Samuel French.

Taylor, Barry; ?Euthanasia-is it a ?good? death??