Euthanasia
Active and Passive Euthanasia
As we get older, every one of us has to face with death. Sometimes, it comes peacefully, but sometimes it dose not. Many people die from the disease. Especially, patients in the incurable disease, they eventually die under the severe pain without any efficacious treatment. Because of the severe pain, those patients appeal peaceful death. As one way of peaceful death, euthanasia has been discussed passive versus active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia, let patients die without treatment, is allowed by patients¡¯ choice. In other hand, active euthanasia is prohibited by law. The reason is that active euthanasia contains crime because, it takes patients¡¯ life. However, I support active euthanasia rather than passive euthanasia in terms of its efficiency of reducing pain for incurable patients, human dignity in manner of control and enjoyment of own life during the lifetime and finally, peaceful ending of patients life.
First, active euthanasia should be allowed to patients who are under the severe pain for its efficiency of reducing pain. As Rachels made the point, that active euthanasia is more realistic and adequate to the patient rather than passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is taking patients¡¯ life from the severe pain, where as passive euthanasia does nothing and lets patients die in the severe pain. However, 2nd is allowed by choice of patients, where 1st is prohibited, because the patients are killed by others. American Medical Association wrote in their policy that it is contrary ¼¼ take patients¡¯ life, when they work for saving the life. But, if patients die anyway, I wonder why we should watch his/her agony and prolong unnecessary pain until the death. As Rachels said ¡°If one simply withholds treatment, it may take the patient longer to die, and so he may suffer more than he would if more direct action were taken and a lethal injection given(#643).¡± In other words, if...
View Full Essay