Legalizing Euthanasia in America: Arguments, Ethics, and Impact

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the debate surrounding the legalization of euthanasia in the United States. It begins by defining euthanasia and highlighting its current legal status, which is largely illegal with exceptions in some states for assisted suicide. The essay presents the core argument that legalizing euthanasia is crucial for providing terminally ill patients with a dignified exit from their suffering, particularly when faced with chronic diseases and no chance of recovery. It then explores the factual overview, detailing how certain medical conditions lead to prolonged suffering, and the ethical considerations raised by medical practitioners. The essay also presents opposing views, including philosophical and religious arguments against euthanasia, such as the potential for misuse and the sanctity of life. Furthermore, it discusses public opinions, varying perspectives among different demographic groups, and concerns about potential abuses. The essay also considers legal issues that can arise if euthanasia is legalized and the importance of strong regulations to prevent misuse. The conclusion emphasizes the need for a consensus among policymakers, medical authorities, and other stakeholders to establish positive regulations that respect the right to death with dignity. It also references key cases and surveys to support the arguments made throughout the essay.

Running head: LEGALIZATION OF EUTHANASIA IN AMERICA
LEGALIZATION OF EUTHANASIA IN AMERICA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
Euthanasia is the practice of providing east death to patients with chronic diseases with
no hopes of recovery. It is done only with the consent of the patient or the close family members
however, is a largely illegal medical practice in most parts of the world. The topic of the report is
the legalization of euthanasia in the United States, where like many other countries euthanasia is
illegal in most states. In some of the states of the US assisted suicide is legal only in certain
exceptional cases. In certain cases terminally ill patients who would have to suffer long before
their inevitable death due to their conditions do deserve lesser painful deaths. However, there are
many ethical questions that exist in the society and particularly among medical practitioners in
regards to euthanasia.
The thesis statement that will be used for the study is that legalization of euthanasia is
very important as some patients lose hope for survival and live the rest of their lives in great pain
and anguish. Hence, despite the opposing humanitarian ground it sometimes becomes a
humanitarian act to relieve someone of their irrecoverable situations.
Factual overview
Certain medical conditions leave patients terminally ill. However, at the same time it
takes much longer for their actual death to occur. Leaving them to suffer from conditions that are
worse than death in the process. On the one hand there remains no hope for their recovery from
the medical conditions and on the other hand they are to suffer from great pain because of their
conditions that will cause their slow deaths. It is exactly in these cases that euthanasia becomes a
bigger debate. Some medical practitioners argue that at times the right to choose one’s own death
is in line with the concepts of human rights.

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According to Chaloner and Karen (pp. 45) laws need to be changed in relation to
euthanasia considering some of the health conditions that have been witnessed over the years.
They further opine that the perspective of the people in regards to euthanasia is controlled more
by emotional values than factual evidence gathered from cases. Some articles have opined that a
person has a right to death that is as much important as the right to life. In many countries
terminally ill patients are left at home where they suffer greatly till they eventually die a slow
death (Sydney Morning Herald). In the United States the cases such as Karen Ann Quinlan case
of 1976 have aggravated the debate regarding euthanasia. Quinlan was declared to be in a
vegetative state after she drank alcohol with tranquilizers. Her parents fought a long and hard
case in the court of New Jersey to remove her from ventilation. The parents won the case and
ventilation was removed. However, she continued to live till 1885 staying brain dead till she
died.
Opposing view explanation
According to Hyde (pp. 55) euthanasia from an ideological or philosophical perspective
is unacceptable. The argument provided by the author is that medical euthanasia could become
an excuse for medical institutions to unethically deal with terminally ill patients. He opines it is a
form of murder hidden behind medical factors. Various religious leaders have also opposed
euthanasia claiming that it is a sin and a crime to end one’s life before the occurrence of natural
death. There are also ongoing debates in relation to how far ethical standards can be maintained
if also euthanasia is legalized. Hence, a persistent social debate remains in relation to the
legalization in the World. The United States is also affected greatly by this debate (Hudson).
Popular opinions among the public varies greatly in relation to the acceptability of
euthanasia as a valid and legal medical purpose. It has been seen that communities that have

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lower trust on medical institutions have not favoured the legalization of euthanasia in the US
(Emanuel). Church authorities have strongly condemned euthanasia. Moreover, in a survey held
across the United States in regards to the legalization of euthanasia it was found that white
Americans voted more in favour of euthanasia whereas African Americans were more sceptical
about the same. The strongest argument against euthanasia in the US are concerning how if
legalized it can be used unfairly to target the poor. Moreover, insurance company can save
money due to the death through euthanasia of insured individuals. Some have opine it can create
an opportunity for crimes such as murder (Brennan).
Argument
The most important arguments against the favour of euthanasia are in relation to the
potentially dangerous legal issues that can arise if euthanasia is legalized. This argument can be
said to be a genuine concern. However, euthanasia cannot be legalized directly without strong
laws backing the regulations behind its implementation. According to Dinchi (pp. 67), the main
idea behind euthanasia is that the doctor is helping the patients avoid great pain and slow death
by giving them an easier relief. This is mainly because the patients will eventually die a painful
death due to the chronic, incurable and fatal diseases they are suffering from. Hence, the
argument is not in favour of euthanasia being used freely across medical institution upon being
legalized. However, it is in favour of providing a handful of very unfortunate people, the right to
death with dignity (Luzon). Most people that are in favour of euthanasia want it to be
implemented only in the rarest of rare cases. Only under circumstances where the context will be
absolutely clear and as far as possible the consent of the patient will be available without any
form of emotional or psychological force being applied. The only aim is thus to reduce the pain

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of fatally suffering people and relieve them in a better way, as death in certain cases becomes
inevitable for patients.
Conclusion
In conclusion it can be said that the debate in regards to the legalization of euthanasia in
the US can guide the debate in regards to the same across the world. Hence, it becomes much
important that a consensus is reached among policymakers, medical authorities and other
important personnel in regards to the legalization process of euthanasia. The debate has been
ongoing for a long time and it is necessary that effective steps are taken towards creating positive
regulations in favour of right to death.

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References
Hyde, Michael J. The call of conscience: Heidegger and Levinas, rhetoric and the euthanasia
debate. Univ of South Carolina Press, 2001.
Chaloner, Chris, and Karen Sanders. "Euthanasia: the legal issues." Nursing standard 21.36
(2007).
"A right to death, surely, as much as a right to life." Sydney Morning Herald [Sydney, Australia]
22 Oct. 2012: 10. Academic OneFile. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.
Brennan, Frank. "Oregon on the euthanasia slippery slope." Eureka Street 21.12 (2011): 18.
Luzon, Golan. "The Practice of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Meets the Concept of
Legalization." Criminal Law and Philosophy (2015): 1-17.
Emanuel, Ezekiel J., et al. "Attitudes and practices of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
in the United States, Canada, and Europe." Jama 316.1 (2016): 79-90.
Hudson, Peter, et al. "Legalizing physician-assisted suicide and/or euthanasia: Pragmatic
implications." Palliative & supportive care 13.5 (2015): 1399-1409.
Dinchi, J. (2010, June 7). Death with dignity