A Reasonable Approach to Euthanasia Essays - 1566 Words

A Reasonable Approach to Euthanasia One of the biggest controversies of this decade is euthanasia. Euthanasia is inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful?(Henrickson and Martin 24). There are four types of euthanasia voluntary and direct, voluntary but indirect, direct but involuntary, and indirect and involuntary. Voluntary and direct euthanasia is chosen and carried out by the patient.? Voluntary but indirect euthanasia is chosen in advance. Direct but involuntary euthanasia is done for the patient without his or her request. Indirect and involuntary euthanasia occurs when a hospital decides that it is time to remove life support (Fletcher 42-3). Euthanasia can be traced as far†¦show more content†¦The first doctor was charged for performing euthanasia in1935. Harold Blazer was charged for the death of his daughter. His daughter was a victim of cerebral spinal meningitis. He killed her by placing a handkerchief soaked with chloroform over her face until she died. He had taken care of her for thirty years. In his trial he was acquitted (Humphrey 191). The first doctor to be found guilty was Joseph Hassman in 1986. He injected a lethal dose of Demerol into his mother-in-law by the request of her family. He was sentenced to two years probation, fined $10,000, and ordered to perform 400 hours of community service (Humphrey 194). The most recent and most controversial euthanasia doctor is Dr. Jack Kevorkian. He was first charged with first degree murder in December of 1990. He connected Janet Adkins, a member of the Hemlock Society, to his suicide machine?which allowed her to inject lethal drugs into her body at any time (Humphrey 195-96) . He has since then been present at the deaths of more than forty people (Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization). A number of legal considerations are involved in the issue of euthanasia. The state has the right to become very involved in euthanasia cases. The state can specify the number of individuals that must agree for euthanasia to be performed. The state can specify how frequently someone can sign a euthanasia authorization. The state can also specify that only theShow MoreRelatedThe Ethical Dilemma Of The Medical Field1619 Words   |  7 Pagesfield today is Euthanasia. Euthanasia is a process that entails deliberately ending a person’s life, with the intention of relieving their pain and suffering. As such, it is legal in some countries while illegal in some. The US Law accords all informed adults the right to die even though the law surrounding it varies from one state to the other. There are however a couple of ethical issues that come up as a result of the practice. The major debate has been whether or not Euthanasia is right, or wrongRead MoreThe Age Should Not Be A Person s Life1680 Words   |  7 Pagesresort to euthanasia. 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Should I have the option of euthanasia existent to me? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Put under such broad and pitiful circumstances, most Americans would say yes to theRead MoreWhy The Church Had Much Authority Over Ethical Issues1441 Words   |  6 Pages Moving towards the 12th century A.D., Christian views started to reinforce the Hippocratic Oath, and instilled an almost unanimous vote against euthanasia and PAS, which continued for approximately 500 years before being questioned again. These practices were viewed as inconsistent with a person’s responsibilities to God, and contra human goodness. Throughout the Middle Ages, many people saw life as God’s gift to humanity, and thus considered it sinful to be willing to end theirs. Nonetheless