Euthanasia: Pros and Corns - Essay Example

Usually, we see euthanasia as suffering people demanding it. However, there are also some instances when a person cannot make such a demand. In this case, euthanasia is granted as those who are closely associated with the sufferers feel pity for them. The issue, like abortion and human cloning, involves numerous socioeconomic and ethical aspects. According to Rachels (1975), American Medical Association’s policy on mercy killing flaws as it differentiates and defines the practice as active and passive euthanasia; and there is no moral reason for the distinction between active and passive euthanasia.

One of the most important ethical issues related to euthanasia (as cited in International Debate Education Association, 2011), is that it is highly unethical according to the medical principle ‘do not harm’. If this principle is undermined, medical science is likely to lose its credibility. In other words, ending the life without getting an open request from the patients is not a good practice as they may have the least hope that they would once recover from their illness. When patients are completely down with their helplessness, doctors take decisions on their own to end up the life of such patients.

It is extremely unfair to do so as it is against medical ethics and principles. This has got more impacts compared to euthanasia by consent. The positive side of euthanasia is it terminates the infliction of the patient from the great pain he is undergoing. The ultimate end of an extremely ill person is death. So, mercy killing prevents persons from further suffering. Moreover, a person from a poor family may not be willing to inflict much financial burden on his family. Being a person of no use, he may be feeling guilty about being a liability to his family and friends.

As the proponents of euthanasia argue, in such situations there will be no better medicine than death. However, one of the negative sides of euthanasia is that it gives little value to human life as it conveys the message that life can be put to an end at any time on one’s demand or wish (Euthanasia pros and cons, n.d). As far as a paralyzed person or one suffering for years from enormous pain are concerned, they know that getting well from their miseries is impossible and may wish for death. As for them, life will be filthier than death.

There is nothing wrong in allowing people to have died once the intention is positive.