Issue Analysis: Euthanasia

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Issue Analysis Euthanasia

• AKA Mercy Killing and Physician Assisted Suicide

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The Two Sides

• Support Mercy Killing
• Believe that terminally ill individuals in
  consultation with their doctors should be able to
  terminate their own lives.

• Against Mercy Killing
• Believe that individuals do not have the right to
  commit suicide.

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Arguments in Favor

• Its the individuals choice.
• It takes away the choice from the individual and
  places the choice in someone elses hands.

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Arguments in Favor

• It is the compassionate thing to do.
• It would end, in some cases, excruciating long
  term pain that will ultimately end in the death
  of the patient.

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Arguments in Favor

• Someone is sometimes better off if they die than
  if they are kept alive.
• In some cases people suffer and suffer without
  the hope of ever getting better. Rather than
  prolonging suffering ending it quickly is better
  for the patient and the family.

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Arguments Against

• Slippery Slope
• If we agree that its ok to do for terminally ill
  patients, what is to stop us from terminating
  non-terminally ill people?

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Arguments Against

• Leaving this as an option gives the patient an
  excuse to give up.
• Many patients recover even though they do not
  necessarily want to. Those who lose limbs,
  eyesight, etc. choosing to give up rather than
  adapting to their limitations.

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Arguments Against

• Who has the right to decide for you, if you
  cannot?
• A spouse? Parent? Children? What happens when
  they disagree?

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Current Stuff

• Oregon is currently the only state that has
  Right to Die legislation in place. Does this
  give some Americans different rights than
  others? Has this created a problem? What should
  be done now?

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Complications

• Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs)
• Living Wills (Vegetative States)
• Dr. Kevorkian
• Consistency state to state