Level 3

2nd Semester S.Y. 2010-2011

A Stand on Euthanasia
Hospice and Palliative Care
(Saturday, 10:20 – 12:20)

Submitted by:

GINEZ, Nedy Lynne R.

BSN III- D4

Submitted to:

Mr. Lilienthal Filio

February 5, 2011

In the event when a person is undeniably going to die and he is either in great pain or has
virtually become a vegetable, and prolonging his existence is only going to cause difficulties and
suffering for others, I strongly believe that the termination of his life may be permitted.
 Yes. I am PRO- Euthanasia.
I support the legalization of euthanasia for a number of reasons. First reason is because of
the principle of sovereignty or the control of the individual over his own body. An individual has
the authority, which includes the right of owning his life. He is the possessor of his life. He can do
whatever he wants with his possessions, such as selling his new house. Thus, he can also wish to
discontinue his life if the reasons were rational. If we believe that there is a right to life, then we must
accept that people have a right to dispose that life whenever they want.

Evert van Leeuwen, PhD, Professor in Philosophy and Medical Ethics made his stand on this
issue saying that, “Euthanasia, commonly known as “mercy killing” integrates compassionate care
and respect for the patient's autonomy and ultimately makes death with dignity a real option.”

In my judgment, life should really be a matter of choice. People, healthy or not, rich or poor--
should have the power to control what happened to their bodies, and that they should not be forced to
suffer through intractable pain until their body finally expire and die. Some terminally ill- patients are
experiencing dreadful pain and have a very poor quality of life, and they would rather end it as opposed
to living life in a way that they would not enjoy.

The American Civil Liberties Union also stated in its 1996 amicus brief in Vacco v. Quill that:
"The right of a competent, terminally ill person to avoid excruciating pain and embrace a timely and
dignified death bears the sanction of history and is implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. The
exercise of this right is as central to personal autonomy and bodily integrity as rights safeguarded by
this Court's decisions relating to marriage, family relationships, procreation, contraception, child
rearing and the refusal or termination of life-saving medical treatment.

Second reason why I support the legalization of euthanasia is that suicide is a legal act (in
most places) that is theoretically available to all. Suicide, according to Latin is “suicidium”, from sui
caedere, meaning"to kill oneself") is the act of a human being intentionally causing his or her own
death. Pro-Euthanasia movements believed that people have the right to self-determination. People can
choose for themselves when they want to die. They call the right to death the "Ultimate Civil Liberty".

Third reason is that the burden of keeping someone who is in the lifeless state for a long
period of time is too much a waste of valuable space, especially when others who are in more need
of emergency attention cannot get into the hospital. According to research, euthanasia is performed
in hospitals in Kentucky when a panel of "experts", which include a physician, psychiatrist, and a
surgeon, declare that the patient has no chance of recovery and the patient will only continue to suffer
until their death.

At times a terminal illness is so incredibly painful that it turns life into an unbearable burden.
For these patients, death can represent a relief of insupportable pain that they request for a pain- free
death. The physician then provides information and materials to ensure a peaceful and pain-free death.
Thus, the fourth reason why I support euthanasia is that it could be one of the last-resort options
available to a patient facing a hard death. We know for a fact that these options include the
administration of high- dosed pain medication if needed, cessation of life-sustaining therapy, voluntary
cessation of eating and drinking, and terminal sedation. In many cases it seems that the doctor decides
to help the patient by either giving the patient extremely strong painkillers and telling them the lethal
dosage or directly assisting in the death of the patient. The doctor may be the one who will pull the plug
on the life support systems. HOWEVER, it was not the doctor’s choice. That decision is made by
the patient. If an ill person wants to die, then let them be. A person's life and body are their own
business. The main motive for euthanasia here is to avoid pain, mental or physical. And that is why I
think euthanasia is morally right.

This allows the patient to choose their own fate. We should have the ability as free individuals
to choose the situation surrounding our death. That is choosing not to suffer.

The last reason is that patients should not be forced to stay alive. And neither the law nor
medical ethics requires that "everything be done" to keep a person alive. Insistence against the
patient's requests, that death be postponed by every means available is contrary to law and practice. It
would also be cruel and inhumane. There comes a time when continued attempts to cure are not
compassionate, wise, or medically sound. This is the time when all efforts should be placed on making
the patient's remaining time comfortable. Then, all interventions should be directed to alleviating pain
and other symptoms as well as to the provision of emotional and spiritual support for both the patient
and the patient's loved ones.

At this point of the era, worldwide support for the practice of euthanasia appears to be
increasing. Vigorous efforts for legalization are proceeding in numerous countries. The Dutch have
now legalized 'mercy killing' after many years of unofficial toleration. It has already been legalized in
Oregon since 1998. Reasons given for support include honoring the civil rights of an individual to
choose death over an unacceptable quality of life and a need for providing a means for death with
dignity, often with the motive of not burdening loved ones. Supporters cite a report from the
Oregon Health Division for the year 2000, which states that 65% of those committing suicide mention
fear of being a 'burden on family, friends or caregivers' as a reason for their decision.

Personally, I think that euthanasia should be legalized at some point. To ban it entirely is a
grave mistake because euthanasia can truly be a "good death" if it is done the right way, and to the right
person.