Essay, Research Paper: Abortion Vs. Euthanasia

When it comes to the question of law, there are endless debates on which laws are just or which are unjust. Euthanasia and abortion are both very serious topics that bring controversy, mainly on whether it should be legal or not. Currently in Canada, abortion is legal, although assisted suicide is illegal. By making euthanasia legal in Canada as well, not only would humans benefit but also the country as a whole. Euthanasia rather than abortion seems to be a more reasonable solution because of the following aspects; the reasoning in making such a decision, the pain and suffering endured, and whether or not human rights are being dishonoured.
When a person decides to take their own life by doctor assisted suicide, the decision is very thoroughly thought out by the patient, their family and their doctor. The reason why certain people would choose to take their own life is mainly because the pain and suffering is unbearable. When the sickness or disease is incurable, the family suffers along with the patient. They already know that they are going to die soon. Patients who do suffer with these diseases and are physically unable to kill themselves and die painfully, and unhappily. Patients and family members, that decide committing suicide is for the best, it is because they can not bear to see their own family member go through anymore pain. Yet if the person is too ill to instruct what is to be done, it should be left up to the immediate family. Abortion on the other hand is a sometimes a solution for accidental pregnancies. Some people choose to have an abortion because they do not think that they have the suitable conditions to bring a child into the world. There have been some cases in which abortion is totally acceptable, for example, pregnancy from rape. Planed parenthood should be a well thought out procedure. In some cases where carelessness or irresponsibility was reason for the pregnancy, a life should not be taken away for someone else’s mistakes.
Abortion and euthanasia causes both emotional and physical pain. Abortions are not the safe procedures they are purported to be, however; besides having physical pain to contend with, a woman can also experience intense grief and guilt after an abortion. With abortion the mother and father are emotionally suffering because they have made the conscious decision to kill their own child. Having to go through with an abortion can be very unfortunate, and is something that stays with them throughout their whole lives. There are other alternatives, such as adoption. Patients that are sick die slowly and painfully, the victim is restricted, and is unable to have control over their own life. The family and friends surrounding them are emotionally distressed and are suffering as well, something they should not have to go through.
By not allowing a patient to take his or her own life the government is forcing them to go through cruel punishment. There have been many cases in which people have gone through pain and suffering and were unable to die on their own due to the law. People have the right to live their remaining life with the inherent dignity of a human person, that they have control over their body, and that they should be free from government interference in making fundamental personal decisions concerning the terminal stages of their lives. They should be able to control the type of medical treatment being given to them, allowing them to avoid senseless pain and cruelty. By helping the end of suffering of a human being, you grant them the human rights they deserve. When ending the growth of an unborn child even before their life has a chance to begun, you, in some people’s opinion are committing murder. Although some people would say that you are only aborting a fetus not a human, regardless it is still a life. Who has the right to decide whether or not they can take away a life? The value of human life was, and still is, cheapened by this act. Women now have an "easy way out" of what they consider an inconvenience and a burden.
Euthanasia should be legal in Canada, because by making it illegal, it infringes on people’s rights. Euthanasia is looked upon as sin by society, yet the benefits are never clearly shown. It is the only peaceful way a patient can stop the suffering. When abortion was made legal, women were given the power and the means to destroy those who they should, in fact, be protecting the most. A developing human child, can by some people, be reduced to being called and thought of as a mass of tissue. An abortion does not just take the life of an unborn child; it is also a very real threat to any of a woman’s future children, and a threat to the happiness and joy that she would find as a mother. Her chance at motherhood might be forever lost. It is understandable when irresponsibility is not the factor that led to the decision to abort a fetus. In most cases, patients that are slowly dying day after day, should be the ones with the legal option to be able to end their lives peacefully. Life has already made it so tough on these individuals with their disease. Euthanasia in truth does help people in need. The one and most important thing to any individual in society would have to be life. To the average person it is their own, and with it, they can do as they please.


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