Euthanasia Controversy

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Euthanasia: The Controversy of Life or Death

Life or death? Although the answer might seem obvious, it can be more difficult than it appears. Although the human body is resilient, there are some things that it cannot overcome. With certain illnesses and injuries, the body will shut down and go into a coma. With others, the patient will live but be in incredible pain. With no known solutions and little hope for recovery, the question of life or death becomes more complicated. Should the lives of these patients be prolonged when they are suffering? Euthanasia is the painless killing of patients in such situations. History offers a thorough explanation of how euthanasia has evolved overtime.

With a topic as serious as life and death, it is …show more content…
For those in comas, family members often experience emotional, mental, and financial strain. For patients who are terminally ill, it is not just the families, but also the patients who suffer, feeling hopeless and useless. Many are not able to complete basic, everyday tasks and functions on their own. They need someone around constantly to help them, making them feel like a burden to both the medical staff and their families.

Even with the brave faces of the patients, family members cannot help but be affected as well. They spend many hours worrying, visiting, and trying to assist. Their money goes to paying the hospital bills, and familial tensions often rise within the home. With the strain and suffering put upon all involved, is it truly worth it to prolong the inevitable? Choosing euthanasia will not only put an end to this suffering, but will save money, space, and resources that can be used towards other patients with better chances of …show more content…
In 1975, 21-year-old Karen Ann Quinlan was admitted to the hospital in a coma. Later, the doctors determined her to be in a persistent vegetative state. Her parents requested that the doctors to turn the ventilator off and allow her to die. The New Jersey Superior Court denied this request, but her parents refused to accept it. They brought their case to the New Jersey Supreme Court who ruled that Quinlan's "right to privacy" included her right to be removed from the ventilator ( "Legal Precedents"). This ruling set the precedent that the right to privacy includes allowing someone the dignity to die in peace instead of existing in a non-functioning state in a hospital bed until their body finally shuts down. A similar case occurred regarding Theresa Schiavo, whom had been in a persistent vegetative state since 1990. Her husband asked the court to discontinue Theresa’s life support, to which they agreed. ( "Legal Precedents"). With this the exception to the laws regarding euthanasia became clear. After someone is in a “persistent vegetative state”, his or her family members have the power to decide whether or not they will be
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