Pro Euthanasia

Pro Euthanasia

Most people want to live their life with dignity and die with dignity. People make important choices and decisions through out their life. Some of these decisions are very difficult and even life changing. We live in a democratic society where we are free to make these decisions. Death is an unavoidable event and happens to everyone. Death can be quick or it can make our love ones suffer miserably. Some people become very ill or have devastating physical problems they must deal with daily. They have a constitutional right to refuse treatment. Most patients trust in their doctor to help them deal with their illness. As their suffering increases, their self-respect decreases. A person should have the freedom to end their life if they are mentally capable and tired of suffering everyday. A patient should be allowed to end their life with dignity.

Euthanasia is the practice of mercifully ending a person’s life in order to free someone from a deadly disease. The word euthanasia comes from the Greek word “good death.” For years, doctors have been banned from helping patients end their life. Dr. Jack Kevorkian was the first known doctor to help people escape all the suffering. He told reporters, “I believe that anti-euthanasia means pro-torture” (Whales). He was sentenced to over 60 years for his efforts and eventually all his charges were dropped. He saw no use in making someone suffer. Like Kevorkian, Rebman thinks, “The right to a good death is a basic human freedom. The Supreme Court's decision to uphold aid in dying allows us to view and act on death as a dignified moral and godly choice for those suffering with terminal illnesses”(169).

The Bible is a good reference showing that mercy killing existed since early man. In a war against the Philistines, Saul's sons Johnathan, Abinadab and Malchishua were killed, and Saul himself was seriously wounded. He asked his armor bearer to kill him, but his assistant refused. So he took a sword and fell on it. The armor bearer then also fell on his sword. They both committed suicide (1 Samuel 31:4-6). Saul knew he could not live anymore knowing his sons would never return. These events are also described in (1 Chronicles 10:3-7). Saul took his life because of his injuries. He knew when the Philistines arrived; he would be tortured and brutally killed by them. Saw knew his death would be dragged out like a helpless person, slowly