Euthanasia Should Be Legalized

Euthanasia Should be Legalized

Euthanasia, just like other topics regarding human life and death, has been highly controversial and subject to heated debates. Many people perceive it as a violation of the fundamental right to live. It is the act of painlessly terminating the life of a patient undergoing extreme pain or suffering from a terminal disease. Despite the criticism and uphill battle assisted suicide constantly faces, it is indisputably one of the most genius decisions a doctor can approve from a patient. Several apparent reasons justify why euthanasia should be legalized in every society. Some situations compulsorily oblige a physician to put to an end the incessant pain a patient might be undergoing. As such, this essay substantiates the main reasons for the legalization of euthanasia.

Human beings have the right to die. The proponents of euthanasia have conducted thorough research and concluded that without death life would not progress. The fact of having the right to live accords one the right to die, and therefore the right to choose how to die. The emphasis laid upon the right to live should in equal measure be applied on the right to die on a mutual exclusion basis (Anderson, 2014). All people have the right to choose as they please in different respects of life. Therefore, the right to choose a death with dignity and less pain falls under the freedom of choice. As such, upon an individual’s decision to die in the event of a terminal disease, the wish should be granted with no reservations. However, the individual must be of sound mind and of the legal adult age according to the law. Evidently, based on the implication of the right to live, legislation legalizing the right to die should be enacted.

Euthanasia has rules and regulations that control it’s application. Many critiques disapprove of it citing that it could be against one’s consent. According to the regulations of euthanasia, it can only be effected upon an individual’s sound decision that has no influence of non-medical issues such as family conflicts. Health physicians have carefully formulated strict laws that control euthanasia. As such, it is never performed contrary to the patient’s wish. Stopping a life machine upon the patient’s withholding of permission is the only case considered infringement of policy. Euthanizing a patient only occurs upon legal consent and for purely ethical reasons (Muluvi, 2015). Although the regulations might not be completely effective, all law systems have weaknesses that can constantly be improved to match contemporary situations. The fact that effective rules and regulations have been formulated to control euthanasia indicates that the practice should be legalized in every society.

Legalization of euthanasia would save way more lives than when it is illegal. In this sense, recently research conducted in Netherlands indicated that many patients had their lives terminated since their were no laws regulating euthanasia. With the legalization of a certain law comes regulations that govern it. The absence of legislation regulating euthanasia led to the termination of more lives in Netherlands than when the law was enacted (Anderson, 2014). Absence of regulating laws meant the doctors held the capacity to make own decisions without consent of the patient. Upon perceiving no reasonable chances of recovery or relief of pain, any physician would make their best decision for the benefit of the patient. Therefore, some would consider termination of the patient’s life without their prior permission. To obviate such cases in the future, euthanasia should be legalized and regulations put in place by which it is effected.

Apparently, the benefits of having euthanasia legalized transcend the disadvantages. It should be carefully considered and fully authorized in all health centers for the betterment of health systems and decisions. Upon the authorization with adequate regulating laws, the controversy of the topic would decline considerably. The regulations enacted should be primarily centered on the patient rather than the physician. Life is individual and any decisions regarding it should be permitted by the owner. Besides, life is sacred and should be treated with ultimate dignity. The legalization of euthanasia promotes human dignity in numerous respects.

References

Anderson, D. (2014, October 14). Top 10 Reasons Euthanasia Should be Legal Everywhere. Retrieved from https://www.listland.com/top-10-reasons-euthanasia-should-be-legal-everywhere/

Muluvi, G. (2015) Health Laws. Nairobi, Kenya: East African Educational Publishers Ltd.