The Right To Die

Euthanasia is the practice of ending a life to release an individual from suffering an incurable disease or intolerable pain. Having to lay in bed twenty-four hours a day is no way to live a life. People that suffer from a serious disease should have the right to die by euthanasia. In 1991, a national telephone survey was conducted which posed the question, if you were terminally ill, what would you want for yourself . Fifty-two percent of one thousand people in the US said that they d consider assisted suicide or euthanasia. Among the reasons cited were that the people wouldn t want to burden others, live in pain, or be dependent on others or machines. Ones that depend on other people to care for them only feel like a burden. Being a burden to a loved one makes the sick feel even worse then they do already because of their illness. People that are alive only because of machines really don t have a life. If they didn t have machines, they d be dead, so why aren t they allowed to die?

Americans have the rights that are in the Constitution. When dealing with euthanasia, people have to look at what Constitutional rights give people the right to die. Americans have the right to privacy. Privacy to ones body is a strong reason why one should be allowed to seek death by euthanasia. When a person is in great pain is that happiness? As Americans, people have the right to purse happiness. A person s only way to be happy may be death, so why shouldn t they be able to be happy. Having the right to be happy is an American right, even if it means death.

There are those who argue that if euthanasia becomes legal it will become abused and overused. This is a good point. However, if we determine the use on a case-by-case basis this wont be a problem. Euthanasia should only be used after other means of killing the pain have been used up and only after the doctor is able to confirm that the person will endure a great amount of suffering.

People also argue that it is against religion. People believe, only God can give life and only God should take it away. But I ask, why would God prolong such pain and suffering? Jesus Christ suffered and died on a cross. Would he want to see his people go through suffering like he had to? So should one have the right to die? I feel a person is entitled to that choice. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek eu, meaning good, and thanatos, meaning death. So the word euthanasia means good death by its origins. Euthanasia is a way of putting an end to a person s life in which they are suffering or totally dependent on others or machines. Having the right to die should become legal so, many suffering people can end their pain legally.

Sometimes euthanasia serves the interest of everyone concerned and is the best choice for the terminally ill person. It relieves the person of unbearable pain and provides a merciful and dignified end to their life. It also relieves the terrible emotional strain on family and friends of the loved one.

No one is suggesting the value of life be taken lightly. However, the only case worse than a terminally ill patient requesting euthanasia, is the doctor refusing it, thereby, sentencing the patient to a drawn out and painful existence for the remainder of their life.