Is Euthanasia Ethical or Justifiable?

Posted by Seema Nigar Alvi on Sun, Mar 20, 2011  
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The name Aruna Shanbaugh has again evoked the long debate on whether euthanasia should be allowed or permitted? Euthanasia or dying with dignity is derived from the Greek word which means ‘Good Death’.

Euthanasia is an act of bringing life to a halt, of person suffering from a terminal tortuous illness lingering death, and as per the medical point of view, the condition is incurable or irrecoverable. Euthanasia is of two types-active and passive. Active euthanasia involves injecting a lethal injection causing death of the patient while passive involves the withdrawal of life saving support to facilitate death.

Death- is not just a five letter word; it is the complete end of our existence. It is the final stoppage of the beautiful gift of Lord-the life. I feel, we simply have no right to choose whether a person should live or not?

The main and important question is who will decide the suitability or requirement of euthanasia for an individual? There is a strong possibility of exploiting the authority. Another strong opposition is that, it won’t be a difficult task getting a manipulated certification from specialists, justifying the act of delivering death, keeping in mind the surmounting corruption in every sphere.

I would like to narrate an important example of MTP Act, which allowed the termination of pregnancies under certain special humane conditions. But the outcome was highly opposite, it has been misused by all and sundry, including the doctors as a facade for performing illegitimate abortions. The world is full of sufferings and miseries. Giving death is not the solution. There are incidences of children being born with various genetic disorders and congenital deformities, or even children born with AIDS. Life is extremely hard for them. Are we going to end their lives too, to lessen their miseries and hardships? An absolute no, would be the obvious answer. Then, why with seriously ill people?  How can we give death, if we can’t give life? 

Trying to lessen their suffering is a sheer excuse, for trying to run from our societal responsibility. No matter what the situation or reasoning is, we simply cannot justify euthanasia. If euthanasia is justifiable, so committing a suicide is equally permissible. In euthanasia, others decide death and in suicide the individual himself chooses death over life. If we oppose suicide and consider it a crime, we should also not justify or think euthanasia to be ethical.

 

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