Question

Please answer the question with well thought-out and complete sentences. Answer need to be supported by research-based facts.

Many families struggle to make decisions about the best living situation for their aging parent. Most seniors, if given the choice, would choose to remain in their own home for as long as possible, and most families want to respect that choice. What is it that makes staying home possible? This is very subjective and varies in each situation. Many family members or caregivers have a threshold - an event in which they know that living at home is no longer an option, yet others are absolute in their commitment to keep their loved one at home no matter the circumstances. There are many options, some of which people don't always think about:

Proponents of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) contend that terminally ill people should have the right to end their suffering with a quick, dignified, and compassionate death. They argue that the right to die is protected by the same constitutional safeguards that guarantee such rights as marriage, procreation, and the refusal or termination of life-saving medical treatment.

Opponents of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide contend that doctors have a moral responsibility to keep their patients alive as reflected by the Hippocratic Oath. They argue there may be a "slippery slope" from euthanasia to murder, and that legalizing euthanasia will unfairly target the poor and disabled and create incentives for insurance companies to terminate lives in order to save money.

Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

I am in agreement with the suggestion that euthanasia should be considered on a case to case basis. I am not advocating euthanasia for everyone who is undergoing treatment for some terminal illness or incurable diseases but if the patient is not left with any willpower to suffer through and the clinical opinion of the doctor also concurs to the incurability then the decision of the patient or the trusted caregiver should be respected. I see no merit in lingering the pain and suffering of the person and snatch away their dignity.