Question

In your own words, describe the difference between euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Select an argument for or against either euthanasia or physician- assisted suicide. How would you defend your argument?

Answer 1

Euthenasia is described as taking the life of a very ill patient who is unable to handle the pain on the daily basis and from their sufferings. It is done for the patient who is terminally ill and is incurable. Euthenasia is also known as mercy killing , done in order to let them die rather than see them suffer. It is done only after the patient requests to die. When the doctors see him unable to bear his pain and suffering after his request they grant them the wish of euthenasia. In several cases it is done in the request of the patient but in other cases where the patient is unable to take decisions and is unable to speak there the patient's parents, family members or relatives and in some cases the court as well takes the decision for euthenasia. In some countries euthenasia is approved by the law but in other euthenasia is against the law of the particular country. The people of these countries are having debates between them if mercy killing is considered to be legal or illegal . In UK euthenasia is considered to be illegal and the person who is granting the wish of euthenasia will have to be imprisoned for up to 14yrs.

Physician assisted suicide refers to the suicide or self death by a patient in order to end their misery and suffering which is done under the supervision of a physician or any other health care workers. A patient has to meet certain qualification in order to be granted the suicide. Once his condition is qualified and is considered to be a candidate by the suicide laws then the physician has the right to prescribe the person a dose of lethal injection. The physician has no other rights for doing any help except for prescription to the patient. Even the assisted suicide is considered to be illegal in many countries where they find the people guilty for helping them to die or suicide. The patient's first criteria is to be terminally ill and are incurable. They should also be proved to be on sound mind and that they are having a repeated wish of death because of their suffering and also should have a history of taking some lethal medications by themselves.

For an argument,

I would rather select physician assisted suicide over euthenasia because physician assisted suicide is a form of suicide which is done by a person himself and here the people are only involved till the drug prescription. In this the patient is in his sound and clear mind and is in clear conscience. He is doing all this with his will and the law also states that the person should have a long wish of death and should have attempted to do so. Whereas in euthenasia the person sometimes will not be in sound mind , his decisions are taken by other people. There is a very high chance of having foul play in this. It can be a murder in the disguise of euthenasia when it is recommended by and where other people are involved especially in the unconscious people.