Euthanasia Should Not Be Legalized - 1353 Words

Euthanasia is a term derived from the Greek words ‘eu’ and ‘thanatos’, which typically translates to an ‘easy’ or ‘gentle’ death. It is defined as the intentional speeding up of the death of an individual based on terminal medical circumstances (Jonsen, Siegler et al, 2002). It is a heavily debated topic, as it involves disputes over the extent of individual autonomy, and thus the rights that stem from that autonomy; and the ethical repercussions that arise from the belief that there is a universal sanctity of human life. The ethics can be divided into three fundamental bases: ethical, philosophical, and legal. In what follows, I will distinguish between the different dimensions of euthanasia, evaluate both sides of the act in terms of†¦show more content†¦Sanctity of life is predominant in the case of euthanasia, as it states that one should never intentionally end the life of another, with the exceptions of self-defence a nd/or war. Many religions prohibit euthanasia, for instance, Roman Catholics view the act as morally wrong due to the teachings of the Decalogue, ‘thou shalt not kill’ (Exodus 20:13 (KJV)). Furthermore, the Vatican’s Declaration on Euthanasia states in part, ‘[n]o one can make an attempt on the life of an innocent person without opposing God s love for that person, without violating a fundamental right, and therefore without committing a crime of the utmost sin’ (Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1980). The claim is generally based upon the notion of the sacredness of human life, as many religious traditions maintain that God created mankind in his own image, subsequently believing that person is a representation of God (Dworkin 1994). In terms of ethics concerning the physicians, the Hippocratic Oath is of primary importance. One of the main arguments against the legalisation of euthanasia is that it is in conflict with the oath that the majority of physicians around the world have sworn to uphold. The oath dictates that a doctor should not deliberately harm their patients, and thus they should not aid them in quickening their death, ‘I