Euthanasia: A Critical Review of the Right to Die

The right to die
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Introduction
The story considered in this assignment throws light on a burning topic of the 21st century viz.
Euthanasia. The euthanasia can be defined as the termination of life when there no chance is left
to save the person by any means (Boudreau, 2011). The lady named as Mathilde in the story
exercised the option of euthanasia i.e. her right to die. This paper aims to critically review the
story in the context of euthanasia.
What are the anti-euthanasia arguments?
Some argue that along with enjoying certain rights, the person has some obligations also. In this
case, the lady died in her bed without considering the opinion of wider society and her children.
Sometimes, euthanasia is also linked to religious practices and it is argued that only God has the
right to take life. Another argument is that it facilitates the doctors and society to kill the person
before his/her natural death in the name of saving resources. Some argue that it may lead to the
blatant violation of the law for greedy and selfish reasons. Euthanasia disrespects the value of
sacred life. Euthanasia may not be in the best interest of the terminally ill patient and many times
the person is not able to decide without any ambiguity if he or she has to exercise the right to die
(Math and Chaturvedi, 2012). Thus, voluntary euthanasia gets converted into involuntary one.
What are pro-euthanasia arguments?
The scholars in favor of euthanasia argue that the person has right to die which, though nowhere
mentioned, implicit in the right to life. The right to privacy includes the right to die as death is
not bad at all. A good death is the right of the person which must be provided as in this case. Ro-
euthanasia professional argue that the euthanasia can very well be regulated to prevent any