Euthanasia: Practice, Debate, and Ethical Considerations

Running head: EUTHANASIA
Euthanasia
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

EUTHANASIA 2
Euthanasia
Euthanasia is a practice where someone’s life who is under severe pain is intentionally
ended relieve pain and suffering. It is done by the medics at the request of the ailing patient. It is
grouped into different forms which include voluntary and non-voluntary. It is a practice that is
being embraced across all over the world. Euthanasia started in Ancient Greece and Rome where
the Socrates and the elder in the ancient world came together and deliberated hastening a
person’s death who was under severe pain and suffering (Keown, 2018). Despite the practice
being embraced there are people who do not support the move. Most of these quote ethical
factors to be the reason for their disapproval.
Euthanasia has faced intense debate from the ancient times. The legalization of
euthanasia has been discussed for many years and decades with different opinions being brought
up. These are considerations are mainly legal or ethical in nature and surround patients, care
givers and the health care providers. The health care providers are usually in dilemmas when
they are looking after the patients who are terminally ill and whose chances of surviving are very
minimal. This at times forces them to make very tough decisions using their moral and
professional reasoning. Health care professionals cannot decide to continue with euthanasia
without consulting patients and their care givers (Paterson, 2017).
Euthanasia is mostly viewed as murder most members of the society. Despite this,
physicians have to comply with the patients’ decisions unless it is legally unauthorized (Connor,
2017). The physicians are forced to make very tough decisions on either to withhold or withdraw
treatment for any patient based on the religious, cultural and legal factors. Deaths that occur as a
result of euthanasia are viewed in different perspectives between countries. In some countries,
euthanasia is legalized while it is illegal in others.