Ethical Argument Against Euthanasia

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One of the most debatable arguments about euthanasia is the ethical dilemma this action represents for the patient, the family and the doctors. Robert Cordover, an Australian marine biologist who suffered from Motor Neuron Disease was one of the many advocates and petitioners of euthanasia, as a form of pain relief. In a video recorded in the living room of his house, Nica; Cordover’s wife, reads out loud his petition to the Australian government to accept his plea and allow him to terminate his life and suffering. A portion of the transcript can be found below:
…Relieve and true palliative care should start with the reassurance that physician assistance death will be available when I need it, I don’t want to die today but I do know that there will be a time when the continuation of this tortures will result in the rational decision to end my life before deteriorating into
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Moreover, some patients like Cordover will agree that euthanasia demands a different kind of moral responsibility from governments. The ethical responsibility a government has with terminally ill patients; it is also to allow them to die with dignity rather than forcing them to continue with a daily torture. Ethically speaking it is incorrect to intentionally cause constant harm to others by not allowing them to terminate their suffering and force others to live tortuous lives. Supporters of euthanasia argue that to “deprive mentally competent, terminally ill people who want to end their suffering of a peaceful "aid in dying" is to fundamentally disrespect their right to personal autonomy” (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide). In other words, supporters suggest that euthanasia is the legal right to die with dignity given to ill-faded people that do not have any possibilities of