Benefits of Euthanasia: A Debate on Mercy Killing

Running head: EUTHANASIA
EUTHANASIA
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EUTHANASIA
Euthanasia is defined as the process of mercy killing or intentionally culminating
lifespan of a patient to release the soreness and suffering of the patient. Different countries
have different euthanasia laws, which is characterized as intentional euthanasia, unintentional
euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia. Euthanasia concept is accepted by few set of people
and completely dejected by few set of people based on individual concept and mind-set. The
major problem faced by this concept is the ethical acceptance of euthanasia. Some patient
itself requests euthanasia sometimes.
The main issue of euthanasia has been in the hub of extremely intense arguments from
past numerous centuries and is bounded by the ethical, spiritual land practical thoughts.
Euthanasia raised a debate regarding the idea of the meaning and value of a person
independent existence. Hence, this essay will argue on the benefits associated with euthanasia
stating the advantages on the approach of euthanasia.
The concept of euthanasia has taken a different turn in Canada; Quebec approved Bill
52, which permits euthanasia. It was effective after 2015, as the government as well as the
doctor’s required time to frame the policies and arrangement in place (Vanessa, 2019). The
bill permitted Quebecers to undergo mercy death if the patient had any incurable critical
illness or at their end stage of life with no hope of betterment or they are constantly suffering
from physical or mental pain, which cannot be cured any further. Doctors should make sure
that the patient is meeting up to the requirements and the patient is aware of the situation with
his consent.
The Supreme Court of Canada is accepting the concept of mercy killing and will
allow doctor-aided demise and euthanasia permissible across Canada but the debate is still
on. The history of this debate in Canada started long back when a Canadian citizen named

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Donald low pleaded the doctor for mercy death and also urged the government to include this
concept for critically ill patient citing the reference from other countries who have established
this concept. The social and political acceptance of euthanasia is still lacking behind because
there are many doctors who are not in the favour of euthanasia and are not ready to accept
this.
Argument 1: Euthanasia is beneficial is that it ends the patient’s suffering:
i. For the people suffering from any terminal diseases, which cannot be furthered, cured
or can be treated like last stage cancer, euthanasia is the best way to relief the person
from continuous pain (Sanchez, 2019).
ii. People who are struggling with an incurable disease of their ailments would happily
die rather than living in pain and suffering (Nicholas, 2018).
iii. Thus, euthanasia puts an end to a patients suffering by ending the constant
psychological and physical pain of the patient (Fragkou & Galanis, 2018).
iv. Counter: However, euthanasia goes in contradiction of the ethics as the criticizers of
euthanasia claims that no doctor or person has the ethical right to end the life of
another person by the act of euthanasia in spite of the good intents (Campbell, 2016).
Argument 2: Another benefit of euthanasia is that it gives a dignity to the person dying and
ensures patient centred care:
i. Followers of euthanasia, state that it is the wish and right of the patient to decide if he
or she wants to live or die in the way they desire if their life is not worth living
(Kumar & Singh, 2018).
ii. With the utmost dignity and any further pain, the patient can choose euthanasia
(Forcen & Jaramillo, 2018).