Euthanasia is actually from a Greek word called εὐθανασία, that bringing the meaning of good death. According to Wikipedia, euthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a manner which relieves pain and suffering, in fact, it’s the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. Well, the legalization of euthanasia is still a hot debate topic today, most of the countries they do not allowed euthanasia, for example our country, Malaysia, it is mostly because of the religion and also the belief of the people here.
Basically, euthanasia is categorized into different ways, where are voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary and active or passive. For voluntary, it mean the person itself is killed has requested to be killed, and most are passive euthanasia, and in this sense, euthanasia is widely non-criminal. Some people they feel that euthanasia is better instead of living but suffer for the pain.
For non-voluntary, it’s when the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent, for example the child euthanasia, which is still illegal worldwide today. A bit different with non-voluntary euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia is refers to when the person who is killed are actually made an expressed wish to the contrary, in other word is they against this decision. And so, some people argue that it’s kind of murder.
Besides, there are two type of euthanasia, active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia entails the use of lethal substances or forces to kill and is the most controversial mean. Anyhow, it’s legal in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. For passive euthanasia, it entails the withholding of common treatments such as antibiotics, necessary for the continuance of the patient life.
In some situation, euthanasia is acceptable as it can help the patient stop suffering from the pain, just like passive voluntary cases. But somehow there are many people against euthanasia, why? And what are the reasons make them think and believe that euthanasia should not be allowed to end one’s life. Here are some reasons for why they oppose euthanasia.
A doctor responsibility is actually to reduce sufferings and maintain their patient life at all costs. In other word, if euthanasia been legalize, doctor will become the “killer” or executioners but not the one who maintain the people life. Especially for cases like non-voluntary or involuntary, for the one who killed may blame the doctor or people who made the decision.
A cure can come any day, no one knew and no one can predict the development of medication. Some people consider the cost for curing the disease or maybe there is no ways to cure yet, so they decide to give up by choosing euthanasia. But dun forgot, new and high technology medical instrument and also operation skills are growing from time to time and cheaper to cheaper, which will actually affordable by everyone, and some even have insurance to cover the cost. Therefore, legalize of euthanasia will actually grab the chance or opportunities of the patient to continue their life, which is very cruel and unfair. There is a say, we always deserve a hope unless we give up.
Euthanasia mostly decided or conducted after the patient or it family get the advice or suggestion from the doctor. But will the doctors’ predictions wrong? I am not saying that doctor are not professional, but we cannot deny that doctor prediction are not always hundred percent correct. How if the prediction come wrong? It will become a murder already. We always talk about miracle, yes, it might come as long as we believe it and do not easily give up.
And of course there are many parties that against euthanasia especially the religion parties, but some claimed and said it is mercy killing, is one of the ways to save person from getting sufferings. In conclusion, there are people who agree and also disagree with euthanasia. So should euthanasia be legal? It depends on how u evaluate.
