The Practice of Euthanasia
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This paper will discuss the practice of euthanasia, and will specifically address the pros and cons which surround this issue from the perspective of the doctor-patient-nurse relationship. In modern times, euthanasia "generally refers to the ending of someone else's life for compassionate reasons, when people are terminally ill or their suffering has become unbearable" (Van Bommel, 1986, p. 117). There are several different types of euthanasia which have been defined in relation to the specific circumstances surrounding the occurrence of this action. For example, voluntary euthanasia refers to those cases in which an individual has requested his or her own death, whereas involuntary euthanasia refers to cases in which a person is put to death without having given his or her expressed consent beforehand. In addition, an act of euthanasia may be defined as being either passive or active. In passive euthanasia, a patient is simply removed from medical treatment and allowed to die naturally, whereas in active euthanasia, which is also known as "mercy killing," "individuals take an active role in the actual killing of a patient" (Sprung, 1990, p. 2214). The issue of euthanasia has important implications for the medical profession. For example, medical ethics are involved in the question of whether or not a doctor or nurse should take part in the request of a patient who wishes to die. In addition, because of recent developments in medical technology, the question has been
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ase is related to the huge expenses which are involved in keeping someone alive when there is no hope that the patient will ever regain consciousness. Yet another reason is connected to the idea that a person should be permitted to die if that person's quality of life is no longer worth living. In this regard, it is argued that "individuals have the right to decide when their lives no longer have a quality that they want to live with" (Van Bommel, 1986, p. 118).
On the other hand, there are many arguments against the legalization of euthanasia, as well as against performing it under any circumstance at all--legal or otherwise. For example, some people have argued against euthanasia on religious or moral grounds. These people consider euthanasia to be a form of murder, and as such it is perceived as a sin. Others have argued against euthanasia on the grounds that ongoing medical research may discover cures in the near future for diseases and conditions for which there are no cures today. As such, it would be morally wrong to put a patient to death without knowing whether a remedy for that patient's condition will be discovered while the patient is still alive. According to this argument: "Euthanasia may end someone's life
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Van Bommel, Hippocratic Oath, Nazi Germany, Nancy Cruzan, Medical Association, , Supreme Court, Sprung CL, Rouse Dornbrand, Opposing Viewpoints, active euthanasia, van bommel 1986, van bommel, terminally ill, bommel 1986, passive euthanasia, medical professionals, practice euthanasia, gibbs 1990, doctor-patient-nurse relationship, 1990 april, euthanasia personal legal, journal american medical, american medical association, patient sprung 1990,
Approximate Word count = 2591
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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