Should Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide Be Legalized in Canada

Euthanasia, formally known as mercy killing, is the act of intentionally causing the painless death of a sick person, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. In terms of a physicians actions, it can be passive in that a physician plays no direct role in the death of the person or it can be active in that the physician does something directly to cause the death (Yount, 2002). Euthanasia may also be formed into three types of act, which are voluntary, involuntary, and nonvoluntary. Voluntary involves killing the patient at his or her request. Involuntary occurs when the patient does not give consent, or refuses. Nonvoluntary is where the patient is not able to make the decision about their medical treatment so it is up to a third†¦show more content†¦She was helped to commit suicide by a physician in violation of Canadian law in the presence of a Member of Parliament. Euthanasia allows patients to die with dignity because continuing to live can inflict more problems , on both the patient having to cope with the pain and indignity of a prolonged death, and the family because it is distressing having to witness the gradual decline of a loved one. The fact that passive voluntary euthanasia is allowed in Canada should be taken into consideration in making the decision to legalize active voluntary euthanasia more acceptable. It is difficult to find the difference between letting them die and killing patients because they all have the same intention, which is to bring about death. No one disputes the idea that physicians, caregivers, nurses, and other health care providers have a responsibility to do everything possible to relieve the suffering of dying patients. Euthanasia allows for the greater good of a number of people because the patients suffering is removed, the family can prepare and grieve properly, medical staff can avoid more grief and stress, and the cost of patients terminal care can be removed. It would be impossible to control the abuses that legalization would unleash on society. Active euthanasia is a deliberate taking of human life. It would be like taking a different form of suicide, where ones liberty is being taken away because it is alienating your own right to preserve your life. What wouldShow MoreRelatedEuthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide1504 Words   |  7 Pageslegalizing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, we would provide â€Å"vulnerable† patients with better overall protection and health care, give patients (who are excruciatingly suffering and have no chance of recovery) the option to end their lives before they ever needed to go through such an ordeal and giving them peace of mind, and spare the families of the patients the emotional pain of watching their loved one slowly and painfully passing away. 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