Euthanasia is the act of taking a person’s life which is wrong even f the person desires o die. As defined by Euthanasia Definitions, Voluntary euthanasia is when the person who is killed has requested to be killed. It is a crime to take someone’s life. Who has the right to take another person’s life? Who should be allowed to state whether a person should die? Who can determine whether taking a person’s life is for the benefit of the person who dies? Euthanasia is wrong and should not be legalized because of three reasons: it violates the constitutionalized law; it violates the fundamental principle of medical ethics; and it violates the teaching of Christ.
The act of Euthanasia violates the constitutionalized law. All countries except Oregon, Belgium, and Netherlands considered euthanasia as illegal (Map of Countries Who Legalized Euthanasia, n.d.). According to the constitution of California, an anti- euthanasia state, it violates article3, section1 of their constitution. It states that no health care provider can participate in the provision to a qualified patient of medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner (Hinman, 2004). It is also true to all anti- euthanasia countries. Performing euthanasia is against the law and can lead to imprisonment or even beyond imprisonment like what happened to Jack Kevorian, “Dr. Death”, a euthanasia enthusiast who claims to have assisted at least 130 patients to commit suicide by euthanasia. He was imprisoned for 18 years. (Kevorian, 2008)
In a like manner, euthanasia violates the fundamental principle of medical ethics: primum non nocore –first, do no harm. The four principles of medical ethics are non-maleficence (to avoid harm), beneficence (to do good), autonomy (the right to act freely), and justice (acting fairly towards the patient) (Ozimix& Fleming, n.d.). As doctors, they have the responsibility to not harm or kill the trusting patients and give all their best to secure the life of their patients. Pre- Meditated murder is illegal. Euthanasia is pre-meditated murder. Therefore, euthanasia is as illegal as pre-meditated murder. “In United States alone, one in four nurses openly admits to performing some form of euthanasia.” (Euthanasia update. n.d.) It is very sad that nurses nowadays perform euthanasia for the sake of money.
Moreover, euthanasia violates the teaching of Christ. I is stated in the fifth commandment, “Thou shall not kill.” Men are made from the image and likeness of God. God gave us life. Therefore only God alone, the creator of life, has the right to take the life of a person. No one can dictate when to end a person’s life. Killing is an immoral act. Euthanasia is a form of killing. Therefore, Euthanasia is an immoral act. Even if a person is in a state of comatose, there is a possibility that the person will wake up and still continue his life. That possibility is a miracle; it is given by our creator, God. Miracles do happen when you have hope and trust in God.
In Conclusion, euthanasia is wrong in many ways. It degrades the moral character of patients and doctors that do not give importance to the life given by our creator, God. It also opposes the constitutionalized law in countries, where euthanasia is illegal. Furthermore, it desecrates the ethics of medicine. Finally it doesn’t end life with dignity but with disgrace. Euthanasia is both a crime and immoral act, because it practices murder and an immoral act because it deprives God’s sovereignty.
References:
Hinman, L. (2004). Compassionate Choice. Retrieved August 12, 2008, from san-diego.edu/courses/SocialEthics/Handouts/CompassionateChoice.html
“Jack Kevorkian” (n.d.) Retrieved August 12, 2008, from http://www.nndb.com/people/272/000023203
Ozimic, A. and Fleming, J. (n.d.). What is Euthanasia by neglect and why is it wrong?”. Retrieved August 11, 2008, from http://spuc.org.uk/ethics/euthanasia/mib/ethical-reflection
No comments:
Post a Comment